KARACHI, Oct 12: A number of labour force and workers employed in city’s mega industrial estates have left for their homeland to either mourn the death of their family members or manage food and shelter for the loved ones who have survived the Saturday’s earthquake that claimed over 40,000 lives in northern Pakistan.

Many industrial workers from the quake-hit areas are in the process of going back, as huge rush at upcountry bus routes and railway stations is causing delays in their timely departure.

A large number of workers and labour force, who usually prefer going back home a few days ahead of Eid with gifts and parcels for their children and parents, will now be facing a strange ordeal after reaching home empty handed — with only tears in their eyes.

Workers have taken long leave from their respective industrial units till Eid by claiming salaries in advance, while some are reported to have taken loan from their owners in order to arrange food and other necessary items for the survivors of the earthquake. The daily wagers who have lost their family members are now heavily dependent on aid and donations.

Industrialists, who are now facing staff strength problems to some extent, have changed their daily shift pattern in order to keep mills running without any interruption. They may face problems after Eid in running industries on full thrust if their workers do not return or delay their arrivals for various reasons.

In the Korangi industrial area, an estimated 25 per cent workforce belonging to the earthquake devastated areas had left the city, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Gulzar Firoz said.

“Out of 90 per cent tannery workers belonging to Punjab, Mansehra, Hazara, etc., 50 per cent have returned to their respective affected areas. Even c1howkidars and drivers from Mansehra, Hazara and Muzaffarbad have gone back,” he said.

To some extent, he said, the production had been affected owing to departure of workers. An industry that used to run two shifts a day now runs one-and-a-half shift. Many industries now hold workers on overtime for smooth running of production, he adds.

The Korangi industrial area, spanned over 8,500 acres, has more than 2,000 units, providing daily revenue of Rs250 million. Most of the units are export-oriented, including 372 textile units. Over 100,000 people earn their livelihood from the Korangi industrial area.

Site Association of Industry Chairman Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig revealed the same story by saying that a large number of workers have left the industries for their home.

He said that in an estimated total direct employment of over 600,000 in over 2,500 industrial units, including over 550 textile units, 35 per cent workforce belongs to the upcountry, while the rest belongs to Sindh and Karachi. He said that a number of workers had gone back to their quake-hit areas, thus creating some production problems in the industrial units.

However, he pointed out that the industrial units had managed to run their units by calling workers on overtime.

Former Site Association chairman Majyd Aziz said that over 100,000 workers out of 600,000 in the Site area belonged to the quake-affected areas. “Around 15,000-20,000 are reported to have gone back.”

“I think the massive exodus of workers belonging to the affected areas will be seen in the last week of Ramazan as they are waiting for Eid bonuses and salaries to manage things in their areas,” he said while anticipating a possible future problem for the industries after Eid in case these workers do not come back. The first week after Eid would be very crucial for the industries, he added.

F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Rehan Zeeshan said that five per cent workforce had left for home. He said industries were managing the swift flow of production by changing shifts timing, besides holding the workers on overtime.

The F.B. area has over 2,000 industrial units in which 90 per cent are export-oriented relating to textile, hosiery, garments and towels.

Former chairman, North Association of Trade and Industry, Syed Azim Ali, said 15-20 per cent of workers hailing from the quake-hit areas had gone back to their respective areas.

“Currently, the production work has slowed down slightly because of workers’ departure,” Mr Azim said. The North Karachi industrial area, consisting of 2,000-2,500 units mainly small and medium enterprises, was established in 1974.