Pakistani traders recently observed a complete shutdown in Karachi city of the country to protest against inflation and rising power bills.

The recent massive hike in electricity bills has not only shaken the already-burdened domestic consumers but also the trader community across the country, reports The News International.

The Pakistani government even failed to give any relief to the already burdened consumers.

Recently, the country's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar asked the people to pay their utility bills since there was not any other option.

He added that they were negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the issue.

“The electricity bills will need to be paid and IMF conditions will be implemented,” the interim PM was quoted as saying by The News International.

Major markets and business centres remained shut in Karachi on Friday as various trade unions urged people to protest against the troubling issues.

“Lowering power prices is our sole demand," a protesting trader told The News International.

In Lahore, government employees also joined the ongoing protest against exorbitant electricity bills. Power consumers and traders staged protest rallies against the inflated electricity bills in different areas of the metropolis, the newspaper reported.