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Multinationals shaken

By Noshad Ali

LAHORE: Multinational companies were upset after raiders robbed and burnt McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Pizza Hut in Tuesday’s violence, causing a loss of over Rs 10 billion.

Many international restaurants, franchises of Norwegian cellular company Telenor and offices of several multinational companies were closed on Wednesday, fearing damage during the violence that continued on Wednesday.

McDonalds Administration and Public Relations Manager Faraz Ahmed said his company’s management was disturbed and the outlaws had completely burnt the Bank Square outlet and damaged the LDA Plaza outlet, causing a loss of millions and rupees. He said that the McDonalds management had decided to bear with what happened without resisting or demanding compensation. He said the company had asked the police to increase security on all their outlets. He did not comment on when his company would begin normal operations again. The McDonalds restaurant on Jail Road was open on Wednesday evening.

The KFC administration refused to comment and said they had suffered no loss. Several other multinational businesses also chose not to comment. Farrukh Irfan Khan, an Intellectual Property Rights advocate, had a chamber in the KFC building on The Mall, which was completely burnt. His relative said he was very upset because his multinational clients’ legal deeds worth millions of rupees were burnt. His brother Yawar Irfan, a former LCCI president, said his brother was upset and not talking to anyone. Lahore’s markets kept closing and opening following rumours. “I have closed and reopened my medical store four times,” said MA Maqsood, owner of a medical store on Mayo Hospital Road.

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