FAISALABAD, Jan 2: Powerloom owners of Jaranwala Road gathered outside the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) headquarters on Friday in a hope to get a relief from incessant loadshedding.

The company had announced 16-hour power supply to the city industrial area on Thursday after fierce protests by industrial workers. Powerloom owners said nearly 10,000 units attached with the Scarp Colony grid station got only four-hour supply of electricity in 24 hours.

Council of Loom Owners Chairman Waheed Khaliq told Dawn that the workers had been pressing the industrialists hard for smooth supply of electricity, however, the entrepreneurs were unable to resolve the issue on their own. He said Fesco officials had honoured their commitment made by the chief Ahmad Saeed Akhtar on Jan 1 after protests by thousands of workers that industrial areas would have a 16-hour power supply. However, he said Jaranwala industrialists were ignored.

The industrialists dispersed as Fesco officials informed them that supply had been restored and there would be no power outages for longer periods.

Also, different trade associations of Faisalabad have announced a complete shutter-down strike on Saturday (today) in protest against power cuts.

Anjuman-i-Tajran City President Shahid Razzaq said all trade associations had concluded that they should go on a one-day complete strike against power outages and its high rates, high markup of banks and shortage of petrol. He said all markets, including Clock Tower bazaars, would remain closed throughout the day.

He said traders had been facing a financial crisis because of the power and petroleum shortage. Announcements in favour of the strike were also made coupled with distribution of pamphlets to muster support of the masses.

Some traders also raised slogans in favour of a strike in the presence of former premier Nawaz Sharif at the residence of Abid Sher Ali. Mr Sharif, who has offered the support of his party to the federal government for a solution to problems, uttered not even a single word for or against the announcement.

PPP Punjab President Rana Aftab Ahmad said strikes or protests were not solution to the current crisis the country had been facing. He said political forces instead of playing the number game should come up with the proposals that how to tackle the persistent problems. The situation of the country demanded unity instead of agitation, he added. —Staff Correspondent