ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s business community observed a nationwide lockdown strike on Saturday to protest against inflated electricity bills and rising inflation.
The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and business groups called for the protest and won the support of lawyers.
Commercial activities were paralyzed in karachiLahore and Peshawar, as well as other cities, while public transport was largely off the main roads.
In Karachi, the Tajir Action Committee (CT) gave the government 72 hours on Friday to reduce soaring electricity bills and withdraw the recent rise in oil prices.
He warned that if the government did not meet his demands, a prolonged 10-day strike would ensue.
TAC coordinator Muhammad Rizwan said no one was forced to join the strike.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) supported the strike call. However, its president Mohammad Tariq Yousuf said that the big industries were not part of the strike.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Chairman Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said the government was failing to read what was written on the wall.
“Innovative thinking is required to get out of the economic crisis,” he said.
The strike comes a day after Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said inflated banknotes were not a big problem and the government would address the problem.
“It’s not a very serious issue, but the political parties are in electoral mode and are using it as a social cause,” he told reporters on Friday.
The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and business groups called for the protest and won the support of lawyers.
Commercial activities were paralyzed in karachiLahore and Peshawar, as well as other cities, while public transport was largely off the main roads.
In Karachi, the Tajir Action Committee (CT) gave the government 72 hours on Friday to reduce soaring electricity bills and withdraw the recent rise in oil prices.
He warned that if the government did not meet his demands, a prolonged 10-day strike would ensue.
TAC coordinator Muhammad Rizwan said no one was forced to join the strike.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) supported the strike call. However, its president Mohammad Tariq Yousuf said that the big industries were not part of the strike.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Chairman Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said the government was failing to read what was written on the wall.
“Innovative thinking is required to get out of the economic crisis,” he said.
The strike comes a day after Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said inflated banknotes were not a big problem and the government would address the problem.
“It’s not a very serious issue, but the political parties are in electoral mode and are using it as a social cause,” he told reporters on Friday.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.