KARACHI: Traders on Thursday staged a sit-in protest against the soaring inflation in the country, asking the interim government to order reduction in the petroleum and electricity prices.

A huge gathering of traders held their fresh sit-in protest outside the Nepra regional office in the city against the power price hike and repeated their demands for a relief.

They showed uneasiness over the government’s inaction despite it had pledged to reduce the fuel oil and electricity prices, saying that the matter is being prolonged without a reason.

Mehmood Hamid, President All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industry (Karachi chapter), Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Atiq Mir and scores of other trade leaders spoke at the sit-in protest.

Mehmood Hamid said that the government should immediately reduce the petroleum and electricity prices, which he held responsible for skyrocketing inflation in the country.

He said that the government’s agreement with the IMF has spurred the inflation, which not only undermined the country’s ailing economy but also forced the poor and traders alike to face financial miseries.

The government should also stop its motorcade rallies on the pretext of security protocols to the PMs, governors and chief ministers in a bid to save some fuel for the nation, Mehmood Hamid said.

Atiq Mir said that the traders patience are getting thin over the Nepra and K-Electric nexus, saying that the government’s officials should serve the public interest since they draw salaries from their taxes.

He said that the traders will also besiege the K-Electric office and make accountable its officials responsible for inflated and bogus bills. Traders also chanted slogans against the Nepra and K-Electric for power tariffs hike.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023