Daily Times

Different trade bodies in Punjab have announced that they will go on another shutter-down strike, this time for four days, against the new tax regime introduced by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for the current fiscal year.

On Wednesday, the traders under the banner of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran (APAT) announced that they would stage a complete shutter-down strike for two days each in two phases – August 15 and 16 and then August 26 and 27.

APAT Central General Secretary Naeem Mir, who claimed to have the backing of other factions of the association, said at a press conference that it would be a countrywide strike.

“The decision of the strike was made after consultation with all trade bodies,” Mir said.

He added that it was a unanimous decision of the traders from Karachi to Peshawar, who agreed to shut their shops for four days because their demands had not been accepted so far.

Mir demanded that the government announce a fixed tax scheme for retailers only after consultation with them. He warned that protests by the trade bodies would continue until the announcement and implementation of a fixed tax system.

Refusing to accept “the government-chosen fixed tax”, he warned that the traders might opt for an indefinite shutdown after Muharram 10 if their demands were not accepted.

Muhammad Kashif, president of the Central Traders Alliance, a newly formed body, endorsed the strike call, citing that the traders had presented a 32-point charter of demands to the government on how to resolve the burning issues, but they did not receive any response from the authorities concerned.

“We have decided that we are not going to accept the law of presenting CNIC on the purchase of goods worth over Rs 50,000,” he said. “Traders and citizens will give a tough time to the FBR’s inspection teams whenever they visit markets.”