FAISALABAD: Dozens of powerloom workers held a protest rally on Monday against hours-long unscheduled power outages.

Carrying flags and banners inscribed with slogans against loadshedding, the protesters gathered at the District Council Chowk and marched towards the Kutchery Bazaar Chowk.

They chanted slogans against the government for depriving them of their jobs by suspending electricity to their factories. They warned of launching a protest movement in February if situation did not improve.

Hameed Ali, a powerloom worker of Sidhar, said that in the election gatherings, the PML-N leaders, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, had made tall claims about controlling power outages.

However, after forming the government, he lamented, nothing substantial was done for labourers who had been bearing the brunt of power outages in the form of financial crunch.

Ali said many other workers like him were unable to run their powerlooms efficiently during last few days.

“Electricity supply is being suspended for hours without any intimation. The situation is depriving labourers of employment.”

Another worker, Qasim Mehmood, raising slogans for smooth power supply, said that instead of the millers, the poor labourers were really affected by outages.

“We do not have bank balance, savings or alternative means to feed our families. How can we earn bread and butter when the factories remain shut,” he asked.