PESHAWAR: Traders on Saturday held a protest rally against smart lockdowns and warned to open their shops if the government further extended the restrictions in the provincial capital.

The rally was organised by Tajir Itehad Khyber Pakhtunkhwa outside the Peshawar Press Club, where the participants shouted slogans against the lockdowns, price hike, increase in different taxes, power tariff, and demanded special relief package.

Holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands, the traders’ leaders, including Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Zafar Minhas and Mohammad Aftab Khan, said the government had failed to control prices of different essential items, including wheat flour, vegetables and medicines.

They said on one hand, shops and shopping centres were sealed in the name of smart lockdown, but on the other, price hike had forced the people to come onto the streets.

“We have been forced to start protest rallies because our families also need food, clothes and shelter,” Mr Rehman said, and added in case the traders’ demands were not met they would be unable to earn livelihood for their children.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2020