PESHAWAR, Oct 19: Owners of marble factories in Shabqadar area of Charsadda district have said prolonged power suspensions have badly affected their business rendering hundreds of workers jobless.

Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club the other day, the Subhan Khawar Marbles Association president Jahanullah Khan said they always paid bills on time, but even then the power supply was kept suspended from 14 to 16 hours on daily basis.

He said the marble of Mohmand Agency was famous all over the world but the government was least bothered to facilitate the factories’ owners to develop the business and give employment to jobless youth. The prolonged power suspensions, he said, had pushed this huge revenue generating industry to the verge of collapse.

Mr Jahanullah criticised that government for not taking serious steps to address their problems, saying the government had not provided them any kind of facilities to improve production and quality up to the international standard.

Mr Jahanullah alleged the political administration, workers of the local peace body and Charsadda police were demanding illegal gratification from the truckers and collecting Rs6,000 from each truck while shifting marble.

He said Wapda demanded Rs0.8 million for installation of a transformer, which they were unable to pay and demanded separate feeder for uninterrupted power supply to factories.

The marble association’s leader also alleged officials of environment department and police had started conducting illegal raids on factories on the pretext that owners were not following environmental rules and regulations.

He said more than 5,000 workers were given employment in 100 marble units in Shadqadar area, adding the government should protect the future of such workers.