Workers on Saturday observed a ‘black day’ on the appeal of the National Trade Union Federation and the Home Based Women Workers Federation against the federal budget and new taxes. Protest demonstrations and rallies were taken out across the country. The biggest of them was held in Karachi where protesters, including laborers, political activists, youth and home-based women workers, marched from Regal Chowk to Karachi Press Club. The rally was led by NTUF president Rafiq Baloch and HBWWF general secretary Zehra Akbar Khan. The participants, carrying red flags and banners, chanted slogans and held placards against inflation, taxes, and unemployment, privatization and IMF policies. Addressing the rally, labor leaders said time is proving that the current government was installed to attain the goals of international capitalist institutions, especially the IMF, and they are pulling its strings to implement their political and economic agenda here in the country. “The recent budget and the IMF conditions have hacked the economy and the production to a halt. The working-class had already rejected the budget and was protesting against it, now the middle-class, traders and shopkeepers have also joined the ranks.” They said that the traditional economic system had become outdated and the country had gone bankrupt and even the IMF’s intensive care unit could not save it. “Because of the policies of the current government, the inflation has risen to unprecedented levels — over 10 percent in just within a year – and the people have been forced towards economic death. The local and foreign debt on Pakistan has increased to Rs35.09 trillion from Rs28.89 trillion in just nine months. The government is making a futile attempt to recover the debt from public through direct taxes. The central bank has increased the doubled the rate – from 6.5 percent to 12.25 percent – which is poison for the industrial process. On the other hand, in such economic crisis, the government has put Rs1152.5 billion for non-developmental works, Rs834.4 billion for developmental works, Rs2891.4 billion for loans repayment. This shows the apathy of government towards its public.” The speakers said that the foreign debt, of all taken in past 70 years of the country, was $95 billion which since the beginning of this so-called Tabdeeli government has become $105 billion. “The devaluing of Pakistani rupee, on the instructions of IMF, has caused a storm of inflation in the country. When this government came into power, the dollar value against rupee was 1:123 and now it has crossed the ratio of 1:158. The government has played a really bad joke with people by its facilities for the elites and pay raise for the working class in budget. Rather providing jobs, it is taking of those already in the market in the name of privatization. Instead of giving shelter to the people, it is making them homeless by bulldozing their houses.” They said government has planned an increase in power tariffs up to 33 percent. “That will make each unit of electricity pricier by Rs2.60. The gas prices have already been increased by 200 percent which means that an average household which paid around Rs572 a month for their gas will now have to pay Rs1219. Double than before.” “Due to the economic policies, a 20-kilogram bag of wheat flour now costs Rs770 than Rs735, a kilogram of rice Rs140 than Rs110, pulses and lentils Rs200 than Rs100 and sugar Rs73 than Rs55. Same is the situation with other daily basic needs. Quality education and ample health facilities have almost reached beyond the limit of common person. Medicines prices have inflated to over 200 percent. This all tells about the anti-people approach of the government. Transport fares have rapidly been increased. The tax on fuel has increased to 12 percent from two percent. Petrol cost Rs91.06 per liter when this government came into power, now it is RS112.65 per liter. This is badly affecting the common lives.” They said that this overall situation is unbearable and resistance is the only way to stop it. The public can do this only by emerging as the alternative political power because the conventional political parties have failed in laying out a plan against injustice with public. The participants of the rally demanded that the budget be revoked. The increase in power, gas and transport tariffs be overturned. The prices of daily basic needs like flour, rice, cooking oil, milk, meat, vegetables, fruits, pulses and lentils be reduced. The minimum wage be set at least Rs30,000 a month and this should apply to all occupations including agriculture and fisheries. They asked that government-announced minimum wage be implemented in all occupational sectors. Pension (old-age benefit) be made equal to minimum wage.