Pakistani traders strike countrywide against high inflation, utility bills

Pakistani traders on Saturday went on strike against the soaring cost of living, including higher fuel and utility bills and record depreciation of the rupee against the dollar, which has led to widespread discontent among the public.

The traders pulled their shutters down across the country, while protesters burned tires on roads to express their anger.

Ex-senator Sirajul Haq, who trade and business bodies called the strike, market associations, lawyers associations and transporters largely, endorsed heads the religious political party Jamaat-e-Islami, and it.

The country’s commercial and economic hub, Karachi, was almost completely closed and vehicle traffic was thin on roads, with all markets and shopping centers closed.

"We have shut our shops in protest so that our message reaches the ruling class. If they don’t consider our problems, we will devise further strategies, said Fahad Ahmed, a trader in Karachi, adding, "If you pay 100,000 rupees ($330) in rent for your shop and you have to pay an equal amount in electricity bill, how can you survive?”

In the eastern city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, all the main markets were closed for the day, lawyers remained out of courts and intercity and local public transport weren't operating. The northwestern city of Peshawar and southwestern city of Quetta were partially closed.

Pakistan's annual inflation rate was 27.4% in August, according to data released by the state-run Bureau of Statistics.

Pakistan was on the verge of default before securing a lifeline deal with the International Monetary Fund. As part of the conditions for the bailout package, Pakistan was required to reduce subsidies that had been in place to cushion the impact of rising living costs. This likely contributed to the increase in prices, especially energy costs.

Associated Press