KARACHI, Aug 29: Various labour organizations have expressed concern over Shaukat Aziz's assuming of the prime minister's office, saying that it portends more hardships for the poor in the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the organizations - All Pakistan Trade Union Organizations, Banks Trade Union Alliance of Pakistan, National Trade Union federations etc - said that keeping in view Mr Aziz's policies as finance minister of the country, it could be foreseen that the poor would get poorer and the rich would get richer during his government.

The labour leaders, including S.P. Lodhi, Habibuddin Junaidi, and Saleem Raza, apprehended that Mr Aziz would implement anti-labour agenda of the international financial institutions.

They said that if people-friendly economic policies were not formulated, unrest would increase among the masses and the number of people committing suicides or turning to crime would rise.