ISLAMABAD – A nationwide strike by traders is ongoing in protest against the increase in electricity bills and the imposition of taxes.
In response to the call by Jamaat-e-Islami and traders’ organizations, business centers in various cities, including Karachi are closed.
Some schools have also been shut down in certain areas due to the strike. In Islamabad, the roads leading to the Red Zone have been blocked with containers due to fears of protests.
Traders in various commercial centers in Islamabad are observing a shutter-down strike, with shops in areas like Aabpara Market, G-9 Karachi Company, and others are closed.
The All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Sindh announced full support for today’s shutter-down strike, stating that all businesses in small and large cities across Sindh will remain completely closed.
They have rejected the increase in taxes and electricity bills. In Peshawar, the various markets have also been closed by the traders.
In Rawalpindi, traders are striking against heavy electricity bills and taxes.
Major commercial centers, shopping malls, markets, wholesale centers, and grain markets are closed, although bakeries, sweet shops, grocery stores, medical stores, and petrol pumps are open.
All major grocery shops in the large commercial centers are completely shut.
The educational institutions and the district courts in the city are open. Heavy police presence has been deployed in various areas.
The strikes are also being observed in Multan, Lahore, Quetta, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Harnai, Malakand Division, interior Sindh and other major and small cities across the country.
