Traders announce shutter down strike tomorrow

KARACHI: Traders’ bodies have announced that they will observe a complete shutter-down strike and take to the streets on Wednesday (Aug 28) to protest against the government’s imposition of various taxes.

The strike call has been endorsed by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Central Traders Association (CTA), Sindh Traders Alliance (STA), Rawalpindi Traders Association, Rawalpindi Restaurants, Caterers, Sweets and Bakers Association, Anjuman-i-Tajiran Timergara and other various trade organisations.

KARACHI, SINDH TRADERS

Leaders of the Central Traders Association (CTA) and Sindh Traders Alliance (STA) announced a nationwide strike on August 28 in protest against high electricity costs and the continuation of IPP agreements.

The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has announced its full support for the strike.

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chairman Atiq Mir stressd the need for unity among traders against what he described as a “cruel tax system.” He criticised the federal budget for imposing new taxes that have driven up the prices of essential commodities and utilities, including pulses, vegetables, medicines, books, utility bills, and transport fares.

Mir noted that the resulting record-high inflation has severely impacted both traders and ordinary citizens, reducing purchasing power to unprecedented lows. He argued that while the general population suffers, the elite, including the country’s aristocracy and plutocracy, remain largely unaffected.

Mir voiced full support for the August 28 strike, which was initially announced by Markazi Tanzeem Tajran President Kashif Chaudhry. The strike is a protest against the excesses committed by K-Electric and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

“We reject the Tajir Dost Scheme and all federal budget taxes in the larger interest of traders, the public, and the country,” Mir stated. He warned that if the government fails to act in defence of the people and against the luxuries afforded to the plutocracy, there could be widespread unrest.

KCCI President Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh also urged all members to support the August 28 strike by keeping their businesses closed. He urged that the government’s controversial Tajir Dost Scheme, alongside heavy electricity bills and other taxes, must be withdrawn immediately.

RAWALPINDI

On the call of All Pakistan Traders Association, all groups of traders associations in the garrison city will join hands for a shutdown of the city and cantonment areas on Wednesday (tomorrow).

President Rawalpindi Restaurants, Caterers, Sweets and Bakers Association Mohammad Farooq Chaudhry has also announced support for the nationwide trade strike on August 28.

Mr Chaudhry demanded that the government should review the tax policy and consultations with businessmen should be made mandatory while making the tax policy.

Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha said that traders were facing financial crises and electricity bills made their lives miserable.

Another trader association group, the Traders Association, led by President Sharjeel Mir said that the purchasing power of the people was reducing with each passing day and affected the business activities. He said that traders demanded conducive environment for the people and reduce the taxes on people.

“We have reduced our expenses, is the government ready to reduce its expenses,” he said while explaining his association’s point of view on the strike.

MANSEHRA

Traders’ bodies in Mansehra also endorsed the call  to observe a complete shutter down strike and take to the streets on Wednesday (Aug 28) to protest against the imposition of various taxes by the government.

“The country is already witnessing historic inflation, and the government has further vitiated the fragile socioeconomic conditions by imposing more taxes,” Haroonur Rasheed, central president of one of the two major traders’ bodies of Mansehra, told a presser.

In Lower Dir, the business community announced to observe a complete shutter down strike against the imposition of taxes and inflated power bills on Aug 28.

Talking to reporters, Anjuman-i-Tajiran Timergara president Haji Anwaruddin and general secretary Nasir Shah said the business community would not accept the imposition of taxes in Malakand division.

They said the traders’ central body had announced a countrywide strike on Aug 28, and the Lower Dir traders supported the call and would observe a shutter down strike as well.

The Samarbagh and Talash traders also announced to fully support the strike call. They said all the big and small shops and markets in their areas would remain closed on Wednesday.

In Mardan, Jamaat-i-Islami extended full support to the business community over their planned shutter down strike.

BALOCHISTAN

Representatives from Balochistan also pledged their support for the strike, indicating a broad-based protest movement.

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