January 04, 2009	Sunday	Muharram 06, 1430

NOWSHERA, Jan 3: A large number of units of marble and chips factories in the industrial zone of Jehangira have been closed due to prolonged loadshedding, rendering thousands of workers jobless.

Haji Mohammad Hanif Khan, chairman All Pakistan Marble Industries Association NWFP, addressing a press conference here on Saturday announced that seventy units of marble and one hundred and fifty units of chips had been closed in the industrial zone.

He was flanked by association’s members Mohammad Islam, Mian Fazilat Shah, and Mukhtiar Ahmed.

Mr Hanif maintained that over six thousand labourers had been affected owing to the sudden closure of the industries thanks to the continued loadshedding.

The industrialists alleged that though power remained suspended for 18 hours a day for quite some time now, rendering the factories non-functional, but even then they were forced to pay fix charges of MDI on monthly basis.

They said the managements of the factories were not able to pay salaries to the employees and MDI power meter charges, and decided to close down the units.

The marble industries association appealed to the president, prime minister and chief minister NWFP to help restore the power supply to the industries so that future of a large number of labourers could be protected.