Muhammad Saleem

Brick kilns owners are upset as, on one hand, sluggish demand is affecting their business amid high labour and input costs, and on the other, the government is pressuring them to either adopt new zigzag technology or close down to help control smog. Faisalabad has about 500 brick kilns catering to the construction needs of not only the district but also the adjoining areas. Initially, kilns functioned inside the city areas, but gradually, they had to move away from the city due to influx of people and shortage of clay. Currently, the brick rate ranges from Rs15 to Rs21 per piece across Punjab. Like other sectors, this industry is also facing multiple issues. Abdul Razzaq, District President of the Brick Kilns Association, said as many as 70% of brick kilns were lying dysfunctional due to high prices of coal and fuel amid economic slowdown. He said despite hardships, owners of operational kilns were paying wages to labourers as per the government policy.

"We have formed a committee to look into the issue of further increasing the wages," Razzaq said.   Another office-bearer of the kilns association, Muhammad Islam said: "In the past, we were targeted in the name of bounded labour and now action is underway against the brick kilns for causing smog." "Brick kilns are not the only contributor to smog as textile and steel industries, farmers and others have also their due share in causing smog," he added. He said a hefty amount of money was required to adopt the zigzag brick kiln technology, "but we are not in a position to invest in such a technology."

He said the brick kiln industry was providing jobs to people directly and indirectly, driving sectors like construction, steel, furniture, hardware, sanitation, and many others.   "Instead of pushing this industry against the wall, the government should acknowledge the crucial role the sector is playing in the development of the national economy," Islam demanded. Ashraf Ali, another brick kiln owner, said they contributed to the housing sector by providing the basic input – bricks – "but the irony is that our role is not being acknowledged." He said the kiln owners were not demanding any sort of subsidy like the textile sector, "but it's our humble request that we should be allowed to do our business without any hassle'. Like the brick kiln owners, the contractors and consumers are also facing issues due to surging prices of bricks.

Muhammad Ramzan, a contractor, said "The construction sector would crumble if any adverse action was taken against the brick kilns. He said the brick kiln sector was in the tatters these days due to inflation. He said: "Whether you are skilled or have limited formal education, you could earn money by working in the construction and brick kiln sectors. Jahangir Babar, a local resident, said he had to purchase old bricks to construct the boundary wall of his house as rates of fresh bricks were beyond his purchasing power. He said the government must control the rates of bricks.

Babar said he could only raise the foundations and boundary wall of his house, and had to suspend the further construction due to high prices of construction material, including bricks and cement. Razzaq, the District President of Brick Kilns Association, said they were providing jobs to thousands of workers from low-income families, and asked the government to avoid taking any adverse action against the kilns. He sought government help in employing the zigzag technology.

Credit: INP-WealthPk