For the first time in its history, Ghanta Ghar, the central piece of eight bazaars of the city, was draped in black, from head to toe to protest against discriminatory gas and electricity load shedding in Faisalabad, the textile hub of the country and industry and business in Punjab on Sunday.
The entire city was flooded with black flags, and black banners marking the black day. Entry points from all sides, Sheikhupura Road, Sargodha Road, Jhang Road, Samundri Road, Satiana Road and Jaranwala Road were black flagged.
Businessmen, traders and transporters were seen waving black flags on their vehicles. They took out processions in the eight bazaars and surrounding areas to register their protest against the unbearable high cost of living, frequent and irregular electricity outages, gas shortage and discriminatory treatment with Punjab.
Textile exporters wearing black dresses took out protest processions and burnt tyres at Amtex chowk, Abdullahpur Jaranwala Road and chanted slogans against economic and industrial massacre of Punjab and textile industry. A large rally comprising of industrialists, traders, transporters and businessmen staged a protest demonstration at Ghanta Ghar Chowk to register their protest against discriminatory attitude of the government.
Addressing the procession, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association Chairman Rana Arif Tauseef said unprecedented load shedding had destroyed the industrial and business sectors of the country.
“The energy crisis in Punjab has taken a serious turn when its entire brunt has been diverted to this province,” he said.
He was also critical of some of the clauses of the 18th Amendment which he said had restricted across the board distribution of natural resources. “This discrepancy could be removed in 20th Amendment but our legislators showed little interest in this issue of prime importance.” He reiterated his demand to do away the injustices being meted out with Punjab in distribution of natural resources in 21st Amendment. He alleged that under a deep rooted conspiracy, the foreign exchange earning sector of textile was being pushed towards complete closure.
He said the situation had come to a stage that the industrialists were unable to run their mills and were struggling for survival. It was in this context that he said that business and industrial sectors had been forced to resort to protestation.
He demanded immediate cognizance of this serious matter by the government failing which the textile industry as well as businesses would collapse.
Tauseef thanked the Anjuman-e-Tajiran for their cooperation and pulling their shutters down to register their protest.
Ghanta Ghar draped in black to protest discriminatory load shedding
