LANDI KOTAL, July 19: The local political administration on Thursday detained 10 tailors for rejecting Eid orders and overcharging.

They were however freed on payment of Rs20,000 fine.

Local officials said the arrests were made on the complaints of some people that the said tailors had refused to make their clothes for Eid and that they overcharged.

Meanwhile, the tailor community threatened to go on strike over the arrests.

Abdul Hadi, a tailor, said prolonged loadshedding had stressed garment makers out by overburdening them with work.

He said the situation had forced tailors into increasing charges and rejecting new orders as mostly sewing machines ran on electricity.

“We can’t take fresh orders as power outages last for hours daily,” he said.

Farhad Ali, another tailor, said many had abandoned the tailoring profession over excessive loadshedding and escalating prices of stitching material. He said tailors had increased their charges nominally.

“Previously, we charged Rs300 for making a shalwar kameez but now, we charge Rs400 for it,” he said, adding that the new rate hardly catered to their escalating expenditure.

Bilal Ahmad, a student, criticised tailors for rejecting Eid orders and said he and his brother had to get their clothes made in Peshawar after refusal by local tailors.