LAHORE, July 21: A countrywide protest day will be observed by the workers on August 12 to condemn the policies resulting in continuous hike in the cost of living without corresponding increases in the income of the people.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the National Governing Body of the Pakistan Workers Confederation at the Bakhtiar Labour Hall here on Sunday. Gul Rahman presided over the meeting, attended by the office-bearers of 10 constituent national, provincial and industrial unions of the PWC.

Speaking at the meeting, PWC Secretary-General Khurshid Ahmed said that an overwhelming majority of the people had been pushed below the poverty line because of the continuing increase in cost of living triggered by the government policies resulting in increase in utility bills and essential commodities.

He said that the working classes would have to unite to safeguard its interests failing which the lackeys of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund would condemn them to abject poverty for good.

All Pakistan Trade Unions Federation President Chaudhry Gulzar Ahmed said that the rulers were framing all their policies on the dictates of their foreign masters and imposing taxes on the people beyond their paying capacity.