OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE Like other parts of the globe, International Labour Day was observed across the country including the City on Sunday to commemorate the historic struggle of Chicago labourers and renew pledge for rights of workers. In Pakistan, opposition parties, trade unions and social organisations arranged workshops, seminars, conferences, rallies and walks to mark the Day. The organisations called for an end to exploitation of the working class, abolition of anti-labour laws, unemployment and feudalism. Leaders of trade unions and left wing political parties said that the working class was being deprived of their basic rights which they had achieved after long struggle and sacrifices. They said that the ongoing electricity and gas loadshedding has caused closure of thousands of industrial units, thus depriving labourers of their livelihood. Indifference and lack of interest on the part of government functionaries is allowing the influentials to force the labourers to work in pathetic conditions and at low wages. In Lahore, National trade union Federation held a rally from Lahore Press Club to the Punjab Assembly. Leadership of various trade unions joined hands that make the rally a big show. Large number of workers participated in the rally. The participants were carrying placards and banners inscribed with writings in favour of labourers struggle, their demands and against unannounced electricity and gas load shedding. Women Worker Help Line organised a Rally from Lahore Press Club to Faisal Chowk. Chairperson WWHL Azra Shad and General Secretary Riffat Maqsood led the rally largely attended by women workers. The participants demanded Rs 15,000 minimum wages for a worker. Women were enchanting slogans against privatization, discriminatory laws against women and the unrecognized labour of women in Pakistan. World March of Women (WMW) held a demonstration at Regal Chowk to mark the day. Women activists, workers from different sectors and representatives of civil society attended the rally. The participants were holding banners and placards, inscribed with demands to show solidarity with the excluded workers of the informal economy, especially the home-based women workers, domestic workers and peasant women workers. They were shouting slogans against the IMF, WB and IFIs dictated anti-worker policies of the government, fanaticism and rising religious extremism. Among the main slogans were; stop domestic violence; stop economic exploitation of the women workers; end discriminatory laws against women; down with imperialism, down with IFIs and neolibralism. Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Labour Wing organised a rally from LPC to the Muslim League House at Davis Road. Political activists and workers participated in the rally. Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith organized a ceremony to mark the event. Addressing the ceremony, MJAH leaders criticised the rulers for increasing petroleum prices, terming it a labour day gift for the workers. They demanded the government to increase minimum wages of workers in accordance with the inflation. Rana Nasrullah said that prosperity of labourers was necessary for the development and progress of the country. He said that increase in POL prices would put additional burden on working class. Imtiaz Ahmed Mujahid said that the labourers have to come out on roads and fight for their rights. Muthida Kissan Muhaz has claimed that the influential involved in NICL scandal have transferred land of farmers through bogus registries. MKM demanded the Punjab Chief Minister to probe the allegations and register cases against those involved in illegal transfer of farmers land in the City.