Powerloom workers in Multan take to streets against loadshedding

MULTAN: The powerloom workers staged a demonstration against prolonged electricity loadshedding at Manzoorabad Chowk near Chungi 14 on Wednesday.
The protesters led by Pakistan Powerloom Association central president Khaliq Qandeel Ansari were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against ever-increasing power tariff. Majority of the protestors belonged to ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. They chanted anti-government slogans, burnt tyres and blocked the road to register their protest against the closure of industrial units due to power shutdown in urban and rural areas falling in the jurisdiction of the Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco). They also expressed concern over high power tariff and long duration of power shutdown which had rendered hundreds of workers jobless. They threatened to besiege the Mepco Headquarters and the DCO Office in case their demands were not entertained.
Addressing participants of the rally, Khalid Ansari criticised the government for ignoring problems of the powerloom sector. He claimed the powerloom industry was facing heavy loss as the cost of production had increased manifold due to hike in power tariff. He feared closure of over 35,000 units due to over 10-hour shutdown on daily basis. As a result, about 100,000 workers would lose their jobs, he added.