Traders denounce hikes in fuel, electricity rates

Call for immediate withdrawal of recent increase

HYDRABAD:

Trade activity came to a halt in most parts of Sindh on Saturday as businesses observed a shutter-down strike in protest against rising inflation and soaring electricity bills.

The strike was organised in response to calls from various trade associations and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).

Demonstrations were also held by the business community, workers, and general public in several cities.

In Hyderabad, markets remained closed, contributing to reduced traffic on the roads. The Hyderabad Tajir Action Committee, with support from the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Trade and Small Industry (HCSTSI), as well as other small trade bodies, spearheaded the strike in Sindh's second-largest city. A group of lawyers also staged a protest rally that started from the court and concluded outside the press club. With the exception of pharmacies, dairies, general stores, and fuel stations, nearly all types of businesses remained shut.

A similar strike took place in Hyderabad on August 28, organised by the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI).

However, some groups of traders had opposed the strike and appealed to their fellow traders to keep their businesses open.

Addressing the rally on Station Road, Aqeel Ahmed Khan, the party's Hyderabad district leader, criticised the caretaker government for subjecting the people to inflation woes, especially considering the existing hyperinflation.

He expressed concern that people were being forced to sell their jewellery and other valuables to pay unjustified inflated electricity bills.

Khan also lamented that the government, on top of the electricity cost burden, was increasing petroleum prices every fortnight.

He alleged that the corrupt ruling elite was syphoning off the public's tax money. Khan rejected the government's proposal to offer instalment plans for electricity bills and demanded an immediate rollback of the recent hike. Shutter-down strikes were also observed in Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Badin, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan, Sukkur, Jamshoro, and other districts.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2023.