Pakistan traders observe shutter-down strike over rise in electricity bills, inflation

Consumers are passing through troubled times with the spike in inflation and electricity bills in recent times.

The strike is a continuation of the ongoing protest demonstrations led by traders and the public in various cities. Fuelled by their frustration with inflated power bills, people had taken to the streets in recent days against unbearable price hikes and inflated bills, reports Dawn News.

Pakistan's Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, meanwhile,  called it a “non-issue”.

He said it was being raised by some political parties as a “tool” in their election campaigns.

“It is not a very serious issue, but political parties are in election mode and using it as a social cause,” the interim prime minister had told senior journalists and news anchors on Friday.

Jamaat-i-Islami, earlier, asked traders and  citizens to participate in today’s strike in Karachi.

Speaking to Dawn News, JI spokesperson Zahid Askari said that the strike was being conducted “peacefully” today. He mentioned that transporters had voluntarily suspended their operations.