The traders’ community is observing a nationwide strike against the imposition of taxes and rising electricity and gas bills, as reported by ARY News on Wednesday.
Ajmal Baloch, President of the All Pakistan Traders’ Association, stated that no discussions are currently taking place with the government, and traders across Pakistan are participating in the strike. Markets from Karachi to Khyber remain closed in response to the traders’ call.
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On Tuesday, Kashif Chaudhry, Central President of Anjuman-e-Tajiran, criticized the government’s negotiations as a “drama” and pledged to continue the strike. Chaudhry emphasized that traders are united in demanding a reduction in electricity prices and a review of agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). He highlighted that the strike is a step toward correcting the country’s economic system.
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial assured traders that their “legitimate” demands would be considered but insisted that the Tajir Dost Scheme would not be withdrawn. During a virtual meeting with traders from Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, and Peshawar, Langrial reiterated that all reasonable demands of traders would be addressed. However, he emphasized that the Tajir Dost Scheme would remain in place.
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Langrial also noted that Pakistan is one of the few countries where retail and wholesale taxes are not levied and stated that it is not feasible to tax the less powerful more than the affluent.
Karachi-based businessmen and traders first gave a call for the shutter-down strike about three weeks ago, but deferred the move on assurance by the government that their issues would be addressed through negotiations.
However, their talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan and his economic team remained unsuccessful on Wednesday this week.
They asked the government to withdraw the condition of acquiring a copy of computerised national identity card (CNIC) of buyers of factory production, withdraw 17% value-added tax on traders and restore the old system of zero-rated tax facility for five major export sectors.
Later, the businessmen and traders from Multan, Islamabad and Lahore announced a one-day shutter-down strike for Saturday.
“Businesses in the entire country will remain closed on Saturday,” All Karachi Tajir Ittehad’s leading member Muhammad Rizwan told The Express Tribune.
A Karachi-based group under the umbrella of All City Tajir Ittehad, however, claimed success in the second round of negotiations with the federal government.