TOBA TEK SINGH: Six leaders of the protesting powerloom workers started a hunger strike as they continued their sit-in at Shahbaz Chowk for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.

Powerloom Workers Association President Nadeem Ashraf Jogi, Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union central vice president Muhammad Shabbir, Muhammad Salim, Muhammad Shahid, Rafiq Ahmad and Nasir Khan started the hunger strike.

The protesters told the media 45 powerloom factories of Toba, 92 of Kamalia and 110 of Gojra had been closed, rendering 7,000 workers jobless.

The owners had shut down the units when the workers demanded the wages fixed by the government as per its notification on July 1.

Shafi, one of the protesters, said his daughter was ill and he was unable to buy medicines for her while there was no food at his house as he had no job.

Labour Welfare Department Assistant Director Muhammad Shahbaz claimed the factory owners had closed their units after they were pressurised by the officials to pay workers the wages fixed by the government.

Powerloom Owners Association spokesman Muhammad Zahid claimed they were already facing losses and the demand of wage raise by the workers had forced them to shut their business.

Brick kiln workers, led by their leader Sajida Begum, visited the sit-in camp to express solidarity with the powerloom workers.

RAID: FIA raided the office of an illegal currency exchange at Machli Bazaar and arrested its manager.

The raiding team seized 500 dirhams, 500 Saudi riyals and Rs50,000, a mobile phone and a computer from the office. It sealed the office and arrested manager Naseer. He was running a currency exchange business in the guise of a prize bonds seller.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2017