Traders across Pakistan observe shutter-down strike
Political parties including JUI-F, JI and PTI back traders' call for countrywide strike.
Traders in major cities across Pakistan participated in a shutter-down strike on Wednesday in protest of the government’s highly publicized tax reforms, including the Tajir Dost Scheme.
Earlier this month, the traders’ community, including the Markazi Tanzeem-i-Tajran Pakistan and All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajran, called for a nationwide strike in protest of the Tajir Dost Scheme, as well as high taxation and inflated electricity bills.
Trader associations have condemned the tax challans amounting to Rs60,000 issued to small businesses and retailers. They argue that those registered under the scheme were assured they would not be required to pay more than Rs1,200 in taxes.
In today’s strike, the political parties including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Awami National Party (ANP) are throwing weight behind the traders.
Following the Aug 28 strike call, the traders of Karachi, Anjuman-e-Tajiran Karachi also announced a complete closure of business today.
“The political leadership has failed,” said Javed Shams, the president of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran’s Sindh chapter, announcing his support for the nationwide strike.
He said that the ruling class wants to take away the right to live from the business class and the people, insisting that the “Trader Friendly Scheme” is not acceptable in its current form.
Meanwhile, the Karachi Electronics Dealers Association (KEDA) has also backed the strike call.
KEDA President Mohammad Rizwan said all trade unions from Karachi to Khyber are participating in the strike.
Traders in various cities across Sindh, including Nawabshah, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Sajawal, and others, are also participating in the strike. Both central commercial areas and small- and large-scale businesses are closed in support of the strike.
In Punjab, cities such as Vehari have seen all business centres shut down in response to a nationwide strike called by the Central Traders Association of Pakistan. Markets including those on Club Road, Jinnah Road, Luddun Road, Rail Bazaar, Choori Bazar, and Multan Road are completely closed.
In Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, traders’ organizations are participating in the strike, resulting in the closure of various markets throughout the city. Trade unions are calling for the withdrawal of the increase in power bills and a reduction in tax rates.
Markets such as Sadar Bazaar, Shafi Market, Qisa Khwani, and Khyber Bazaar are all closed, with traders’ organizations setting up protest camps in front of these shut markets.
In Dera Ismail Khan, a full strike is in effect, with all commercial centres closed, supported by the traders’ association, traders’ union, and traders’ action committee.
In a response to the countrywide strike, Coordinator to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Implementation and Monitoring, Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, said the government will not be pressured by traders.
While speaking during Geo News programme “Geo Pakistan”, Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan invited the traders for talks if they considered the government’s “wrong”.
He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reorganised the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), insisting that the retail sector must also come under the tax net.
