Business community in Karachi remains extremely disturbed and may opt for a complete shut down if the government did not take stringent measures to control deteriorating law and order situation, warned leader of the business community S M Muneer.
Addressing as a chief guest at a reception in honour of newly elected Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, Mohammad Zubair Chhaya by DSI Group at a local hotel, Muneer said that in a meeting of trade and industry’s representatives it was decided to shut down trade and industry across the country for two days. However, “the decision has been put-off for the time being and we have decided to hold a nationwide convention of business community in Lahore in order to plan future line of action”, he said.
He said that Karachi is a mini-Pakistan and if anything happens to this city the entire country would get paralyzed. He said that the business community does not want to impose martial law in the country as it fully opts for democracy. He however questioned that where is government and where are law enforcing agencies. He said that much of the police force is performing duty for the protocol of VIPs. He said that the business community has demanded of the government to immediately withdraw the police force deputed on VIP duties and ask the minister and MNAs/MPAs to hire their private guards as police is only for the public duty. On the issue of Baldia Town tragedy Muneer said that it was not possible that a factory owner having rs2 billion exports put his own factory on fire.
He said that the factory should be reopened so that over 1,500 workers who have rendered jobless should be given employment. President All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Mian Zahid Hussain said that the law and order situation in Karachi is worsening and the kidnapping for ransom and target killing has become uncontrollable. “This situation has become unbearable for us”, Zahid warned saying that due to the efforts of S M Muneer the countrywide shut down has been averted for the time being however, the business community would soon decide its course of action in Lahore’s convention. Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan stressed on the business community to get united for their rights as the situation in Karachi is not at all satisfactory.
KATI Chairman Zubair Chhaya called upon the industrial associations to form a joint platform for their rights as difficult days are yet to be over. He said that industries are suffering due to immense problems particularly gas shortage and electricity crisis coupled with ever increasing prices of POL and CNG. Chairperson of the DSI Group Shabbir Desai also spoke on the occasion.
