RAWALPINDI: Traders from the garrison city on Monday staged protests against inflated electricity bills and warned of countrywide protests if the slab system in the bills was not withdrawn.

The traders of different markets and bazaars in the cantonment and city areas brought out rallies on different roads. They kept their businesses closed from 4pm to 6pm and blocked Bank Road in front of Singapure Plaza, Tench Bhatta, Commercial Market, Satellite Town and Raja Bazaar.

The protesters were carrying placards and chanted slogans against the government’s policy of collecting taxes through electricity bills and demanded that extra taxes be withdrawn and the electricity tariff revised.

Addressing a protest rally, speakers said that due to brutal taxes and per unit price increase in electricity bills, the cost of doing business had increased manifold, industries had come to a standstill and they were forced to close down their businesses.

Demonstrations held in various markets of the garrison city

They said that the traders demanded that the electricity tariff be reviewed and consumers given relief. They said that traders should not be forced to shutter down as the burden of electricity theft and line losses was being borne by citizens and traders.

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They said that the government increased electricity tariff in summer and that of gas in winter, adding that people used a minimum of 200 units but their bill increased manifold.

Talking to Dawn, Cantonment Traders Association Secretary General Zafar Qadri said that instead of increasing investment, the government was collecting revenue by putting taxes in the bills.

“The anti-business policies will have to be stopped,” he added.

Mr Qadri said the government had adopted wrong policies and made the lives of people miserable.

He said that it was strange that the electricity bills jumped to Rs10,000 after 200 units. “It is difficult to pay electricity bill for those having minimum wage of Rs35,000 per month,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi Restaurants Caterers Sweets and Bakers Association also staged protest in front of Rawalpindi Press Club led by Mohammad Farooq Chaudhry.

The speakers disapproved of the exorbitant increase in prices of electricity, gas, LPG, water bills as well as petrol and diesel.

They warned the government that despite the three-day symbolic strike, if the government did not address the concerns of the business community, they would launch countrywide protests.

Mr Chaudhry said they had apprised the government of their concerns at every platform but to no avail. “People and traders are unable to pay electricity, gas and water bills; inflation has made it impossible for us to live,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2024