Nationwide shutter-down inflicts colossal economic losses

The economy suffered substantial trade losses due to a countrywide strike called by the business community against high power bills and increasing tax burden on Wednesday, overshadowing claims of a major victory, while industrial activities exhibited a mixed trend due to various factors. Industrialists’ bodies supported the strike by traders, while also urging the government to revise contracts with independent power producers (IPPs) without committing to keep their units closed. One cannot rule out the impact of incessant rains and disrupted transportation in the port city, which forced many workers and staffers to stay at home.