KARACHI: The industrial production and business activities remained subdued as a larger chunk of labour could not reach their workplaces due to heavy rains that lashed the metropolis on Tuesday.

The labour attendance dropped at some places up to 50 per cent due to thinner public transport affecting activities in the major industrial estates of the city.

Many retail and wholesale markets were closed down early in the evening because of Shab-e-Barat. A number of public transport owners kept their buses parked eyeing rough weather and lesser flow of commuters.

Site Association of Industry Chairman Salim Parekh claimed a decline of 50-60 per cent in workers’ attendance on Tuesday. He said many who came left early due to Shab-e-Barat.

He said that accumulation of rain water in Site industrial areas was another factor for a lean working day. At some places rain water entered factories.

He further claimed that movement of containers loaded with export shipments for the port also remained suspended for the better part of the day.

Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Razzak Hashim Paracha said only 20 per cent workers could not turn up.

He said 85 per cent of the workers and labor live in the vicinity of the industrial area while people living in far-flung areas could not reach the industries.

He added there were also no reports of big power failure as KATI office received only two complaints of power failures from their members.

The association had adopted a system through which industrial units can lodge its complaint to KATI.

He further claimed that export shipments were remained normal from the industrial area.

Chairman North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) Sadiq Mohammad said that around 2,000 industrial units had recorded 30 per cent decline in workers’ arrival which hit production activities to the same tune.

Former Chairman F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Masroor Ahmed Alvi said that 80 per cent of workers had marked their attendance as majority of them were living nearby their industrial units.

President Muslim Mini Bus and Coach Owners Association (MMBCOA) Mehmood Afridi said that only 20-25 per cent mini buses and coaches out of total 13,000 vehicles had plied on the roads.

He added the number of public transport had further plummeted after heavy rains in the evening.

Karachi Transport Itehad (KTI) President Syed Irshad Bukhari said that only 25 per cent buses out of total 3,300 plied on Tuesday.
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