People blocked the road during a protest demonstration against loadshedding in Faisalabad. — ONLINE Photo

FAISALABAD: All trade and industrial associations in Faisalabad and Sialkot will observe a complete strike on Tuesday (today) against massive power outages and imposition of fuel adjustment surcharge.

The decision was taken at the level of Faisalabad and Sialkot chambers.

FCCI Vice-president Rehan Naseem told Dawn all trade and industrial unions would stage protest rallies and assemble at District Council Chowk to press the federal government to withdraw the fuel adjustment surcharge besides improving power supply.

A faction of the local Anjuman-i-Tajran, called Sher group, however, made announcements through speakers that there would be no strike on Tuesday and that all markets would remain open.

But in the evening, members of the Sakka group declared that all markets of the Clock Tower would remain close.

SIALKOT: The local business community will come on roads after locking their concerns to lodge a strong protest against up to 20 hours long power outages.

The strike has been called jointly by SCCI, Markazi Anjuman Tajraan and other trade bodies.

Under the protest plan, exporters will march on city roads and stage a sit-in at Allama Iqbal Chowk and in Small Industrial Estate besides besieging the Gepco's local offices.

Talking to newsmen, SCCI President Naeem Anwar Qureshi said the federal government had forced the traders, industrialists and exporters to come on roads. He threatened a civil disobedience move from April 1 if the situation did not improve. SHAHBAZ:

Talking to entrepreneurs in Faisalabad on Monday, the chief minister criticised the federal government and said the rulers had looted the public money with both hands instead of spending it on tackling gas and power crises.

He said the government had also misappropriated billions of rupees of public money in the name of Benazir Income Support Programme, sold the raw material of the Steel Mills, ruined the PIA and railways.

Endorsing traders' concerns over fuel adjustment surcharge, the CM vowed to join their protest if the PML-N failed to get it resolved.

Dawn Report

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...