RAWALPINDI: Protests against inflated electricity bills continued on Tuesday with shopkeepers and small traders bringing out a rally from the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) offices to Fatima Jinnah Women University and blocking roads for an hour.

The call for the protest was given by RCCI in which all business organisations of the city and cantonment participated.

Shopkeepers of all markets shut down their outlets at 2pm and staged a demonstration on Rashid Minhas Road after reaching there in rallies. All officials of the RCCI also participated in the protest.

The protesters were carrying placards and chanting slogans against the government’s policy to collect taxes through electricity bills. They wanted to stage the demonstration on Kutchery Chowk but the police stopped them and asked them to rally on Rashid Minhas Road instead.

Representatives of Anjuman Tajran Shahid Ghafoor Pracha, Sharjeel Mir, Sheikh Hafeez, Arshad Awan, President of Small Chamber Tariq Jadoon, Raja Jawad, Munir Baig Mirza and others addressed the rally.

The rally started from the RCCI building and ended near FJWU. Addressing the protesters, RCCI President Saqib Rafiq said due to rising taxes and per unit price increase in electricity bills, the cost of doing business had increased manifold, working of the industry had come to a standstill and businesses were now forced to close down.

He said RCCI had demanded the government to review the electricity prices and give relief to the consumers. He said traders should not be forced to shutter down. He said the burden of electricity theft and line losses was being borne by the masses and traders.

“Instead of increasing investment, the government is collecting revenue by adding more and more taxes to utility bills,” he said. The anti-business policies will have to be stopped, he added.

Group leader Sohail Altaf said today’s large gathering was a demonstration of the traders’ unity. The value of dollar has risen above Rs300, making it hard for importers and exporters to do business. The facility of free units and petrol for the privileged class should be abolished, he demanded.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2023