PESHAWAR, April 4: The traders of provincial metropolis have decided to kick off a protest movement on Thursday against increase in prices of petroleum products.

Flanked by Al-Khidmat Tajiran district president Abdul Qadir Saraf and Tajir Ittehad president Mian Akhtar, he said that traders were not ready to accept the government's decision regarding increase in the rates of petroleum products and CNG.Mr Hadi threatened that they would continue and intensify their protest if government didn't revise its decision about increase in fuel prices. He said that transporters had also assured them of their support and pledged to observe wheel jam strike.

The traders' representative said that entire responsibility of the consequences of protest would rest with the government.

"The government increased the prices of petroleum products by Rs8 to Rs10 per litre and then announced a decrease of Re1 to Rs2. It is a joke with the people of the country," he said.

Mr Hadi said that they were already bearing losses owing to militancy, disturbed law and order situation and unjustified taxes but the recent increase in prices of petrol and gas would make their lives miserable.

He said that traders were also in contact with opposition parties. "We will devise a joint strategy if the government doesn't revise its decision," he added.

Besides, he said, unscheduled power loadshedding had made lives of people miserable. He said that they were unable to continue business activities in the prevailing situation.

In Nowshera, the goods and public transport operators staged a protest rally on Wednesday against hike in prices of petroleum products.

They took out a vehicular procession, consisting of trucks and vans, from Nowshera Kalan. The participants of the procession were carrying black flags, inscribed with different anti-government slogans. They blocked G.T Road to all kinds of traffic for some time.

In Mardan, local chapter of All Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Goods Transport and Adda Owners Federation set a three-day deadline for the rulers to reduce fuel prices.

The president of the federation, Liaqat Khan, chairman Haji Noor Mohammad Khan and senior vice president Haji Khyber Khan told a press conference that prices of petroleum products were being reduced in the International market but the same were being increased in Pakistan.

They also criticised federal minister for petroleum and alleged that he was deceiving nation. They asked government to reduce fuel prices within three days.