GUJRAT: Hundreds of pottery units are on the brink of closure due to the rising rates of gas which has been the industry`s major source of fuel.

The pottery manufacturers of Gujrat and Gujranwala have warned of protests and shutdown if the government did not slash the gas tariff.

The warning was issued at an emergency meeting of the pottery manufacturers belonging to the two cities held at Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GtCCI) on Wednesday and presided over byChaudhry Zaman Iqbal.

The participants expressed their grave concern over the challenges being faced by the pottery sector in the wake of gas tarif f and competition from Chinese products nooding the local markets.

Haji Nasir Mehmood, a manufacturer, said the gas rates had been increased by at least 150 per cent during the last six months which was unprecedented.

He said the pottery sector had been a cottage industry which could not survive under such dif ficult situation.

He said the looming closure of local pottery industry might causelarge-scale unemployment as at least 40,000 people were employed in the sector.

He said the government should consider these challenges seriously to steer the sector out of crisis.

Another participant said the local pottery industry could not compete with the cheaper Chinese products in the market because of unprecedented raise in the gas tarif f.

The meeting demanded an immediate relief in the gas rates for the pottery sector, warning that otherwise the manufacturers would be forced to suspend production and take to the street along with workers.