KARACHI, July 8: Most of industrial units remained completely shut on Friday while those in operation suffered over 80-90 per cent production loss owing to negligible workers presence in units on the day of a call for mourning given by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Business activities in wholesale and retail markets and commercial shopping centres remained paralysed, causing problems especially to daily wage earners.

Container carriers loaded with export/import cargoes and local goods, taking goods from and to port/up-country and industries and wholesale markets also stayed away from roads causing billions of rupees loss.

Because of non-availability of public transport and closure of CNG and petrol pumps, industrialists did not take the risk of holding back workers on Thursday night for overtime.

Chairman, SITE Association of Industry, Abdul Wahab Lakhani, said “daily production of Rs15 to Rs20 million in SITE industrial area from 4,000 plus units was completely lost on Friday.”

He said he personally took a round of the area which portrayed a deserted look and industries were virtually closed.

He said torching of various motorcycles parked outside Lakhani Silk Mills by 100-150 miscreants besides aiming to destroy the unit on Thursday followed by burning of a factory in Qasba Colony created anxiety among industrialists to keep their units closed on Friday.

“Industrialists are now further shocked over security after shrinking number of policemen to 100 from 250-300 in SITE area on Friday,” he said, adding that it may have been done to beef up security in other areas, but SITE has become a highly sensitive area after tension in its surrounding areas, like Orangi Town and Qasba Colony. He urged the authorities to increase Police force in the area.

President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mohammad Saeed Shafiq, estimated a production and revenue losses of Rs4 to six billion per day when business activities became completely suspended.

“We will close down industries and business activities if the government fails to control deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi as well as daily loss of innocent lives,” the KCCI chief said.

Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Syed Johar Ali Qandhari, said the per day production in Korangi Industrial Area, comprising over 4,000 units, is estimated at Rs3 billion while the area provides daily revenue of Rs300 million.“On Friday, 90 per cent of production and revenue were lost due to closure of industries,” he added.

While workers living in adjoining areas like Malir, Landhi, Quaidabad, Shah Faisal etc also did not turn up due to lack of public transport, he said, adding, contract transport facility in many industries also remained inoperative due to tension in the city.

Chairman, F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Mohammad Irfan, said hardly 20 per cent labourers living close to their respective units marked attendance which resulted in 80 per cent production loss.

He said many industries remained closed and even officer level persons also stayed at their homes.

Chairman, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI), Faraz Mirza, said the area having over 2,000 units suffered a production loss of Rs200 million besides causing revenue loss to the national kitty to the same tune due to complete closure of production activities in the area.

President, Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, Haji Shahjehan, said over 60 per cent buyers from the city areas did not turn up at the wholesale market while trucks arrival also plunged to 250-300 trucks from daily 700-800 trucks.

General Secretary, Sindh Poultry Wholesalers and Retailers Association (SPWRA), Kamal Akhtar Siddiqui, said that around 100,000-125,000 birds were slaughtered on Friday in outlets situated inside the residential areas as compared to 400,000 birds a day in normal days in entire city.

He said hardly 30 per cent birds had arrived on Friday from the poultry farms situated in the outskirts of the city.

A meat merchant said as all the main markets remained closed on Friday due to which legal and illegal slaughtering of 12,000-15,000 goats and 1,000-1,200 cows remained suspended from Thursday’s night till Friday’s morning.