THIS is apropos the article ‘Whispered warnings’ (March 19). The writer while referring to Dr Mubashir Hasan as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government’s first finance minister, mentions: “he launched a daring, daunting and ultimately damaging programme for the nationalisation of key industries.”

Among the light engineering industry, the Ittefaq Foundry and Works Ltd Kot Lakhpat, Lahore, owned by Mian Mohammad Sharif was also nationalised in January 1972.

Upon nationalisation, the company’s name was changed to Lahore Engineering and Foundry Ltd and the deputy director industries was appointed its first managing director. Having no experience of running an industry, he tried to maintain the status quo but the situation soon went out of his control and he was replaced.

Having joined the company in its human resources department in February 1972, I am privy to the worsening conditions which developed owing to various reasons. The workers union, which was not allowed to play its statutory role previously, became a strong collective bargaining agent union and soon submitted its first charter of demands to management. The agreement so reached, raised the workers emoluments to a reasonable level.

However, thereafter the spoilers started setting in, creating 16 more labour unions, bringing total collapse of industrial peace. Consequently, to maintain the law and order situation, the factory became a permanent abode for the federal security force.

The company’s fixed cost increased manifold owing to the enhancement of staff cost, including the canteen expense, higher cost of raw material and other procurements. As a result, the margins of profit started declining. Infighting among various groups became a norm, which brought down the factory’s production. Having no respite from the total chaos for around seven years, the company was returned to the owners.

Parvez Rahim
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2020