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LAHORE, July 17: The All Pakistan Anjuman Tajran president has said the government should not compel small traders to go on a strike against high gas and electricity tariff and petrol prices.
Addressing a meeting of the anjuman here on Thursday, Haji Maqsood Butt said small traders were finding it difficult to continue business owing to energy inflation.
They would be left with no alternative except strike in case their demand for with-drawal of increase was not accepted.
Anjuman Secretary-General Abdul Razzaq Babbar, Haji Muhammad Ashraf, Mian Tariq Feroz, Naeem Badshah and Khalid Pervaiz said the government should provide soft loans to small traders who were finding it hard to continue business.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Industrial and Trader Associations Front has urged the government to desist from increasing the POL prices any more.
Mian Abuzar Shad, the front chairman, said in a statement that there was no justification for further increase in POL prices which were already beyond the reach of the people. The government should withdraw the taxes on POL products instead of increasing the prices, he demanded.
WATER SUPPLY: Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed says the government will spend Rs8 billion on the provision of water supply and drainage facilities in the province during the current financial year.
Speaking at a workshop on civic amenities here on Thursday, he said potable water facility was available to 60 per cent urban and 30 per cent rural population at present.
The government was paying special attention to provide water supply and drainage facilities to the people in far-flung areas, he said.
