KARACHI, Feb 23: Transporters and traders based in Karachi have agreed to wage a joint struggle against the rising prices of petroleum products and other commodities of daily use.

They have also hinted at a joint strike to be observed if the prices were not brought down.

At a meeting on Wednesday between the Chairman of the Alliance of Market Associations, Atique Mir, and the President of the Karachi Transport Ittehad, Syed Irshad Hussain Shah, it was agreed that joint platform be set up to raise voice against price-hike. It was decided that if the Karachi traders, during their scheduled meeting this week, gave a go-ahead, there would be a shutter-down and wheel-jam simultaneously.

Atique Mir, in a statement, pointed out that the Oil Companies Advisory Committee had crossed all limits by resorting to raise petroleum prices beyond a reasonable proportion.

Its policy, he said, had resulted in the increase in prices of all essential items. He said that the government had absolutely failed in checking rise in the prices of flour, milk, sugar, vegetable oil, medicine etc. He demanded immediate dissolution of the Oil Companies Advisory Committee and bring down petroleum prices to a reasonable level.

He also appealed to the businessman community to fully support the strike as and when announced by transporters against the price-hike in order to force the government realise the miseries of common man. -PPI