Traders protest smart lockdown in Peshawar

PESHAWAR:

Defying the government-imposed smart lockdown aimed at tackling the energy crisis, the business community took to the streets on Thursday in a massive protest rally.

The demonstration, led by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Traders' Organization, saw hundreds of traders chanting slogans and demanding an immediate rollback of the lockdown, a reduction in petroleum product prices, and urgent measures to curb spiraling inflation.

Under the leadership of organization president Malik Mehr Elahi, the rally brought together a large number of shopkeepers and businessmen. Addressing the crowd, prominent leaders including Shoukat Ali Khan, Shakil Ahmed Khan, Ameen Hussain Babar, Ahsan Ali, and others voiced strong criticism of the government's approach.

"The lockdown has neither benefited the government nor the traders. Shops are forced to shut down by 8 pm, but during the scorching summer, people begin their shopping only after evening. This decision has failed to resolve the energy crisis and offers no relief to the public on petroleum products," one speaker said.

Protesters argued that the relentless hike in petrol prices has pushed everyday commodities beyond the reach of the common man. "Fuel prices have soared so high that an ordinary citizen can no longer afford basic necessities. The lockdown decision must be reversed immediately, and concrete steps must be taken to control inflation," they demanded.

The traders warned of further escalation if their demands are not met, vowing to continue their struggle until the government rolls back what they called an ill-conceived and economically damaging policy.