SIALKOT, Aug 8 The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and other trade bodies have announced to lock factories and observe a hunger strike from Aug 17 against load shedding which had resulted in 34 per cent decline in Sialkot's exports.

Speaking at a press conference here at the chamber, SCCI President Hassan Ali Bhatti and representatives of trade bodies said that 90 per cent production in Sialkot factories has been affected due to load shedding. Moreover, there was a 34pc decline in Sialkot's total exports in sports goods, surgical instruments, leather and leather goods and musical instruments industries.

They also decided that they would not pay their electricity bills as there was 20 to 22 hours long load shedding daily.

They said thousands of daily wagers have been terminated in local factories due to power outages and 90 per cent production in Sialkot factories has been affected, causing a loss of billions of rupees.

They said that Sialkot exporters were unable to timely send their export consignments to foreign destinations, and ultimately there was a cancellation of orders from buyers.

Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association chairman Irfan Elahi, Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association chairman Sarfraz Ahmad, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (Sialkot) chairman Ziaur Rehman, Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association chairman Nadeem Abbas and former chairman of Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association Arif Mehmood Sheikh also spoke.

They also announced to start a peaceful drive against prolonged power outages, besides, making a human chain comprising local traders, industrialists, exporters and industrial workers to lodge their protest against power outages.