Traders nationwide strike against sales tax

Lahore: There is a complete shutter down strike by the business community across the country against the sales tax and businessmen-friendly scheme on the call of Jamaat-e-Islami on Wednesday.

Due to the shutter down strike, markets and shopping centers will remain closed across the country. The traders have demanded to end the trader-friendly scheme and withholding tax.

Various political parties including Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and JUI have announced their support for the traders' strike.

The business community of Lahore is divided into two parts on the issue of the strike. The presidents of Landa Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Anar Kali, and other markets are in favor of keeping the market closed. President Badami Bagh Auto Market and Chairman Ferozepur Road has also announced a strike.

On the other hand, Anjuman Tajiran Naeem Mir Group's traders, President Shahdara Board Khalil-ur-Rehman, Senior Vice President Hall Road, and President Punjab Retailers Poultry Association are in favor of keeping the markets open and have announced to keep the markets open.

The president of All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran Sindh today announced his full support for the shutter down strike and said that businesses will remain closed today in all small and big cities of Sindh, rejecting the increase in taxes and electricity bills.

Karachi Electronics Dealers Association President Muhammad Rizwan said that all trade organisations from Karachi to Khyber are involved in the strike. If the issues are not resolved, the duration of the strike may increase.

In Peshawar also, various markets have been closed by the traders and the traders unions have demanded that the increase in electricity prices should be withdrawn and the tax rate should be reduced.

Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said in this regard that there will be a successful strike from Chitral to Karachi. The government will be forced and it will have to back down.

Hafiz Naeem further said that the traders are ready to pay taxes but the determination of taxes based on markets is not accepted. The landlords should be taxed and the ruling class should reduce its expenses.