RAWALPINDI, May 24: Scores of people marched on the busiest Murree Road here on Tuesday to protest against the rising inflation, unemployment, poverty, low wages and a host of other socio-economic problems being faced by the common man.

The protest call was given by Pakistan Workers Confederation, a conglomerate of over dozen associations and trade unions. More than 500 workers participated in the demonstration.

Similar protest demonstrations were also held in other big cities like Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Mardan, Faisalabad etc.

The trade union representatives saw the prevailing increase in prices and unemployment as unprecedented in the history of the country in which the common man was feeling it difficult to keep his body and soul together.

The representatives of PWC and its subordinate associations along with hundreds of workers gathered at the press club and marched up to Rialto Chowk blocking traffic on one side of the Murree Road.

They also passed a number of resolutions condemning the government for its apathy towards the problems of the common man. The government should take immediate steps to check the rising prices of essential commodities, one of the resolutions demanded. Another resolution demanded early implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award for journalists.

The PWC general secretary, Khursheed Ahmad, criticized the government for its failure in controlling the continuous increase in the prices of daily use commodities. He also opposed privatisation and denationalisation of state units.

He also demanded end to what he called neo-liberalism, capitalism and feudalism. He criticized the IMF and the World Bank and said many of the socio-economic problems being faced by the developing countries were a result of their dictations.

President PWC, Islamabad Zone, Zafarullah Khan Niazi asked the government to change what he called the black labour laws into ILO-recognised ones. He also opposed the Banking Companies Ordinance 27-B and demanded its abolition. The ordinance, he said, also restricted the union activities of banking sector employees.

He blasted the government for the sky-rocketing prices of daily use items. He demanded a check on the prices and a strict action against hoarders and profiteers.

Mr Zafarullah said the government had failed to provide jobs and suggested that the national industries be declared tax-free, sick industrial units be handed over to the people and the existing raw materials in the country be utilised to create more job opportunities.