PESHAWAR: All Pakistan Traders Alliance (APTA) held a protest demonstration here on Monday to demand of the government to abolish taxes in electricity bills.

The protesters said that poor people were being taxed to pay for the privileges of those in power.

APTA’s rally was led by its provincial chapter president Malik Meher Ilahi, which started from Rampura Gate and ended at Chowk Yadgar.

Almost all the trade unions, including Sarhad Traders Alliance, Pakistan Peoples Traders, Pakistan Chemist and Druggist Association, Car Dealers Association, Peshawar Traders Cant, City wedding halls association, Pakistan Hindkwan Association, Peshori Karwan Foundation, Jamiat business forum district Peshawar, property dealers’ association, civil society members and others participated in the protest rally.

Addressing the rally, speakers termed the recently approved budget as anti-public. They said that the politicians, during election campaigns, had promised providing up to 300 units of electricity for free but as soon as they won the general elections and formed government, new taxes were imposed

They said that people were selling their valuables for paying their electricity bills. They said that in such a scenario, no one would be willing to invest in businesses.

They said that Independent Power Producers (IPP) were being paid in foreign currency , adding that the overall need of the country was 20,000 megawatts but the IPPS were being paid for 48000 megawatts.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2024