Small traders demand special relief in power bills

Mettis Global reported that trader representatives want authorities to provide targeted electricity bill relief for small businesses, comparable to the existing fuel subsidy. They said the aim is to cut running expenses and bring commercial activity back. The demand emerged from a meeting led by Syed Jafar Ali Shah, district president of Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajiran Pakistan, alongside Sheikh Javed Akhtar, Khalid Mehmood Qureshi and Alhaj Babar Ali Qureshi, according to APP.

Leaders said persistent inflation has reduced consumers' buying power, weakening demand and causing a sizeable drop in sales. They also pointed to higher power bills, shop rents and other business costs as mounting strains on small traders. The sector, they noted, supports millions of livelihoods, yet rising costs make it harder to keep operations running.

The leaders asked for immediate relief on electricity bills and a special tariff concession for small traders. They argued that such steps could reduce financial pressure, support business sustainability and restore economic activity.