'Erratic' march schedule hits businesses.

GUJRAT -- The changing schedule and strategy to prolong the long march by the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf have given rise to uncertainty among the local businessmen hit by delays in the delivery of consignments which ultimately cause them financial losses.

The routine businesses have suffered a lot in Gujranwala, Sialkot, Wazirabad and Gujrat, known as the golden industrial triangle of Pakistan, since the PTI long march roamed in the belt for almost a week until Nov 3 shooting, says Waheed Tanda, a former president of the Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry GtCCI.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday, he said the operations of several factories had been shut or curtailed due to the delay in the supplies of raw material particularly in pottery, electric fans and plastic pipe sectors rendering the daily wage labour jobless.

He said the PTI's sit-ins had been causing damage to already volatile economic conditions of the country as the transportation of goods like the fruits, vegetables and raw materials had been facing inordinate delays.

Abrupt road blockades disrupt delivery of consignments

Moreover, he said the administration and police did not cooperate with the businessmen by stopping the elements from hindering the trucks and other transport. He said local businessmen contacted the GtCCI representatives on Monday to express their grave concern over the situation and demanded that the government [at least] identify some locations for agitation.

Irfan, a local fruit vendor, said the small fruit and vegetable carts along the old GT road in the city could not do business last week as the police did not let them roam in their respective areas and locations due to the security arrangements for the march. But, he said, now the uncertainty had gripped the fruit and vegetable markets due to the apprehensions of further delays in supplies [from farm to market] due to prolonged road blockades.

He questioned how a commoner who depended on daily earning could survive in such a situation as...