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Thousands jobless as factories closed down in Faisalabad
Textile mills and other industries in Faisalabad were closed down on Friday in protest against high power and gas tariffs, forcing thousands of labourers into unemployment.At least one million labourers have been affected with the closure of 2,600 textile and power looms and sizing units in the industrial capital of Pakistan. Wake-up call: Textile Exporters Joint Action Committee Chairman Asim Khursheed says the closure is only the "first phase" of the protest. "Industries have been closed for five days. The protesting industrialists will meet again on July 15 and choose to close their units for an indefinite period if the government does not issue its proposed package of subsidies." He demanded that the government withdraw 31 percent increase in gas prices, assure the industrialists that it will not increase power tariffs, bring down the interest rate and again issue the research and development fund. Posted by: Fred 2008-07-12 |
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