MIANWALI, Jan 23: Hundreds of workers of the Pak American Fertilizer Factory, Iskanadarbad, staged a demonstration on Monday to oppose the privatization of the unit.

Workers gathered at the main gate of the factory and chanted slogans against the Privatization Commission, urging the president and prime minister to stop the sell-off process of this profitable unit at throw away prices and save thousands of families of the factory workers from starvation.

Speaking to the protesters, CBA union chief Malik Muhammad Hanif said privatization was an anti-worker policy, and it was tantamount to snatching bread from the labour.

He added that the unit’s privatization would not only cause unemployment but it would also result in increased fertilizer prices for already burdened farmers.

Referring to previous privatization of two industrial units in the area, he said the affected workers of these factories were facing economic hardship and were still awaiting payment of their dues.

He also threatened to close the factory’s gates for the businessmen visiting it to assess the unit’s value from 29th.