Countrywide traders’ strike against inflated electricity bills, taxes being observed

A countrywide strike is being observed today by trade organizations against the imposition of heavy electricity bills and taxes.

Business centers from Karachi to Khyber are closed due to the strike called by various trade organizations and Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. Schools are also closed in various cities due to the strike.

Various political parties of the country, including Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI-F, have announced their support for the strike. In view of the protest, the administration of Islamabad has blocked the roads leading to the red zone with containers.

The business organizations of Lahore are divided into two factions over the issue of strike as one group is in favour of the strike while the other group is against.

President Anjuman Tajran Karachi Javed Shams said that the political leadership has failed as there will be a complete strike today.

President of All Pakistan Anjuman Tajran Sindh today announced his full support for the shutter down strike and said that business will remain closed in all small and big cities of Sindh, rejecting the increase in taxes and electricity bills.

He further said that the ruling class wants to take away the right to live from the businessmen and the people, adding the businessmen-friendly scheme is not acceptable in its current form.

President of Karachi Electronics Dealers Association Muhammad Rizwan said that all trade organizations from Karachi to Khyber are involved in the strike, if the issues are not resolved, the duration of the strike may increase.

President All Karachi Traders Union Atiq Mir said that this is not a strike of traders but citizens as the common man is worried about inflation.

In Peshawar also, various markets are closed and the traders’ unions have demanded that the increase in electricity prices should be withdrawn and the tax rate should be reduced.