Karachi: The manufacturing of edible oils and fats across the country came to a halt on Saturday after manufacturers shut down operations following a shooting incident on their supplies.
Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA), which represents more than 100 manufacturers, said they would continue their ‘protest strike' until the government assured them of security.
Set on fire
On Friday, a group of tanker owners, who transport the supplies from the port, allegedly set on fire four oil tankers of the National Logistic Cell, to whom the manufacturers had handed over some of the supplies.
The new contract annoyed the private oil tanker owners, who had a monopoly of the operations earlier. Unknown people also shot at the trucks injuring an employee of a television channel, who was caught in the cross fire.
Closing operations
"We are closing our operations down for an indefinite period as our lives are precious than our wealth," Haji Akhtar, the former chairman of the PAVMA said
"We want guaranteed security from the government before we resume our operations," he said.
Some members of the association had no knowledge of the closure of mills from yesterday.
Some 300 oil tankers carry up to 8,000 tonnes of edible oil from Port Qasim to upcountry mills daily.
