Traders renew protest call against price curbs

RAWALPINDI:

The Grocery Merchant Association (GMA) and the Central Traders Association (CTA) have decided on a complete shutter-down and protest movement across Punjab against new price control police stations, imposition of heavy fines, trader's arrests and setting government prices of essential commodities and food items below the market rate.

The traders submitted a formal charter of demand to the government and announced that if the demands are not met this week, a strong protest will be held along with the complete shutter-down. They also announced halting the sale of all food items at government prices across the province.

The president of the Central Grocery Merchant Association, Saleem Pervaiz Butt, said that the provincial trade bodies presented a charter of demands to the provincial government on Tuesday. The demands included setting retail prices for all items, such as lentils, ghee, oil, and rice in accordance with the market rates. The charter also called for an end to traders' arrests, the imposition of heavy fines and the sealing of shops for up to three days, he added.

A joint meeting of traders representatives from all districts of Punjab would be held next week and if their demands weren't met, a strict protest schedule would be announced, Butt said.