GUJRAT, Jan 14: Thousands of workers have been living a miserable life since indefinite gas suspension to the local cottage industry of pottery and ceramics.

The gas crisis has already led to the closure of more than 100 factories in the local pottery sector.

Dawn surveyed the small industrial estate area which hosts a large number of factories including that of pottery, fan and ceramics where most of the workers eke out for their living on a daily basis.

Former president of the All Pakistan Pottery Manufacturers Association Azam Rehmani said the previous partial gas suspension schedule was better than the present situation as the owners and workers were getting some bread and butter though the fluctuation in gas tariff remained a headache for them.

“But the present indefinite gas suspension to more than 125 local pottery units has added to the unemployment rate in the area,” lamented Rehmani.

He said a delegation of the Pottery Manufacturers Association had called on Minister for Industrial Production Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Husain who promised some relief after Jan 15.

On the other side, more than 8,000 daily wagers attached with pottery industry are unemployed. A worker said that they returned home almost empty handed as there was no work at factories at all. “I am running my house at present by borrowing money from friends and relatives. I am worried how I would be able to retire the debt,” he said.

Another worker said the gas and electricity issues had devastated the lives of the poor class.