All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran (APAT) Central General Secretary Naeem Mir has regretted that though the business activity remained suspended for almost a month due the lockdown, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has started removing electricity meters from the shops of several traders who could not pay their bills.

"Instead of giving us relief in the time of trial, the government seems more interested in adopting every possible measure to squeeze us (small-scale trader)," Mir said while addressing a press conference at his office on Friday. Leaders of prominent markets were also present on the occasion.

He said the financial condition of the small traders has become miserable since there was no business for almost a month. "It is a very serious and bid issue but the government is taking it lightly and not listening to our genuine issues," he lamented and warned to reopen markets from today if their concerned were not addressed.

"The government should defer payments of commercial meters for the last three months," he said, demanding that the small traders should be compensated from the Prime Minister's Covid-19 Relief Fund. He said those businesses where people gather in small numbers should be allowed to work by adopting precautionary measures.