KARACHI, Dec 22: Despite achieving a production output between 50-80 per cent businessmen failed to send export consignments to the port for shipments abroad owing to absence of container carriers on Friday because of the strike against Women’s Protection Bill.

Lack of transport carriers also caused suspension in procurement of raw material from the local market as well as delivery of goods from the port despite the fact that the strike remained peaceful compared to the last week’s strike.

Almost all the retail and wholesale markets remained shut from morning to afternoon while some markets in Saddar and its adjacent areas were opened in the afternoon as these areas are favorite shopping place for Christmas shopping.

Trade and industry had already resolved to work on Friday after sustaining huge losses due to previous strikes and unscheduled holidays. However, the Friday strike remained in a low profile from the last week strike in which no major incidents of violence was reported.

Industrialists said that only early morning shifts remained laggard due to very thin attendance of workers but workers started turning up as soon as the transport started plying in the afternoon.

Chairman Site Association of Industry, Ameen Bandukda said that lack of public transport led to only 50 per cent attendance of workers in their respective units in Site area. But the exporters missed their shipments target.

In Korangi area, 50 to 60 per cent production was recorded due to thin workers’ attendance, Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), Masood Naqi said adding that 95 per cent output was recorded in the area in normal days when workers’ attendance is 80 per cent presence. He added that some 10-15 per cent of workers came late but morning shift workers, depending on public transport, could not make it.

Chairman F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Masroor Ahmed Alvi claimed that 80 per cent industries remained functional in the area which means a satisfactory production output on the strike day.

However, exports and local supplies remained completely suspended throughout the day due to non availability of transporters.

Chairman North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (Nkati), Faraz Mirza said that export shipments could not be made despite 60 per cent production in factories.