MULTAN, March 24: Pakistan Traders Alliance (PTA) has warned to launch a protest drive if the government does not check hike in rates of electricity, gas, fuel and medicines.

This was stated by PTA chief Khawaja Muhammad Shafiq at a press statement issued here on Sunday.

Condemning the tax on medicines, he said the working class, low-grade employees and small traders would be the worst-hit.

He claimed same medicines with better quality were available at almost half the rates in the neighbouring countries like India and Iran.

He lambasted unchecked hike in electricity and fuel charges, claiming the poor were already finding it hard to make both ends meet.