ISLAMABAD: Thousands of Pakistan traders shuttered their shops on Saturday, striking over soaring energy and fuel bills stirring widespread discontent ahead of national elections.
Decades of mismanagement and instability have hobbled Pakistan’s economy, and this summer Islamabad was forced into a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avert default.
However, the global lender demanded that popular subsidies cushioning living costs be slashed. Petrol and electricity prices have rocketed.