KARAK: The mineworkers have urged the authorities to bring down prices of food items to provide relief to the poor segments of the society.

They made the demand at a meeting chaired by the local labour union president Malik Naveed Khattak here on Sunday.

The participants said the government had failed to arrest the ever increasing prices of food items, and regretted that despite the fact that Pakistan was an agricultural country its people were facing inflation in prices of food items.

They said prices of pulses, onion, tomatoes and fruits had gone out of the reach of common man.

The workers’ leaders said the low-paid employees and workers of different industries and mines were hit hard by the prevailing inflation.

They pointed out that the district administration had no check on profiteers and hoarders.

They demanded that a relief package should be announced for the low-paid workers.

They said the Covid-19 pandemic had rendered many workers jobless and they were unable to make both ends meet in the prevailing situation.

The workers warned that if the government did not take corrective measures for controlling the price hike then the people would be left with no other option but to take to the streets.

They said Prime Minister Imran Khan was making only announcements and did not take any practical measure to provide relief to the poor.

Through a unanimous resolution, the workers demanded of the district administration to crack down on profiteers and hoarders to stabilise prices and ensure availability of commodities in the markets.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2020