Nationwide shutter-down inflicts colossal economic losses

• Traders’ associations estimate trade loss of Rs500bn
• Incessant rains, transport disruptions keep workers at home

KARACHI: 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...