LAHORE: A large number of employees have been rendered jobless following the closure of more than 200 Jazz-Warid franchise outlets across the country after the two entities decided to consolidate their networks.

The sacked employees held a demonstration on Monday at Liberty Chowk in protest against the management’s decision and urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to intervene.

“The management of Jazz-Warid closed more than 200 [Warid] franchises. Some 60 to 70 people were associated with each franchise. So a large number of people lost their jobs,” Farid Munir, who owned one of the franchises, told Dawn.

He said that at the time of the merger the management had promised to ensure protection of jobs of those associated with the franchises, adding that the protest would continue till the management reversed its decision.

The Jazz-Warid management said: “The consolidation process has resulted in the closure of around a third of the total franchises from both Jazz and Warid. A support programme has been developed for those no longer part of the Jazz franchise network.”

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2017