KARACHI: A general strike was observed throughout West Pakistan yesterday [March 17] on the call of the West Pakistan Joint Labour Council. The industrial sector suspended its activity for 24 hours and all shops and business centres remained closed. Although the strike call did not cover public transport, bus operators co-operated with the workers and did not bring out their vehicles on the road.

During the day, the workers held rallies, took out processions and staged peaceful demonstrations to press for their demands which include increase in pay, better working conditions and implementation of the provisions of the ILO Convention.

In Karachi, the biggest industrial city of Pakistan, hundreds of workers representing over 300 trade unions took out a long procession and staged demonstrations. They held a mass public meeting at the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam. It was addressed, among others, by Dr A.M. Malik, a former Labour Minister, and now President of All-Pakistan Confederation of Labour. ...

In Lahore, thousands of industrial and non-industrial workers in and around the metropolis struck work yesterday. Mills, factories, workshops and certain banking and insurance undertakings in public and private sectors remained idle for 24 hours.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2019