LAHORE, Jan 6: The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has decided to launch protests against the shortage of power and gas from Jan 9.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the PIAF executive committee held here on Tuesday.

According to the decision, industrialists and workers of Kot Lakhpat Industrial Estate will stage a protest at Hamdard Chowk after Friday prayers on Jan 9; industrialists of the Ferozepur Road Industrial Association on Jan 10 and industrialists of Katar Bund Road on Jan 12.

PIAF leader Iqbal Baig Chughtai said the industrialists had been forced to launch the protest programme because the Lahore Electric Supply Company and the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited authorities had not bothered to pay any heed to their requests for ensuring continuous supply of gas and electricity to industrial units.

The government would have to announce relief package for the industry as a number of industrialists had been forced to cut production or close down their unity owing to unprecedented power and gas crisis, he said.