Heavy rains have virtually paralyzed industrial and trading activities in the city. Industrialists said production activities in the industrial estates plunged by 50-80 percent on Saturday.

The rain marred business and production activities amid power outages and low worker turnout due to thin public transport.

Workers, and even the executive staff of industrial and commercial units, could not reach their factories and offices owing to traffic jams and scarce public transport.

The rest of the damage was done by K-Electric, which resorted to load-shedding in the industrial areas, causing a major dent in daily productivity of the industries. Many employees failed to make it to their workplaces while a good number of traders opted to keep their businesses shut.

Local retail and wholesale markets and shopping centres also faced heavy trade losses as they had been almost shut. They said that 80-90 percent market activities remained closed on Saturday. Although some markets were partially open, buyers did not turn up.

The traders estimated a trade loss of Rs 4bn to the business community from Friday evening to Saturday, including damage to finished stocks by rains in godowns and shops, especially in old city areas.

Industrialists said local supplies remained suspended, while the exporters faced difficulty in loading containers for export shipments.

The industrial production and business activities remained subdued as a large number of labourers could not reach their workplaces due to heavy rains that lashed the metropolis.

Labourers' attendance dropped at some places by up to 50 percent due to scarce public transport affecting activities in the major industrial estates of the city.

Many employees failed to make it to their workplaces, while a good number of traders opted to keep their businesses shut.

-Business Recorder