With the backing of trade associations and political parties, traders across will observe a statewide strike on Wednesday in protest of the government’s tax measures. Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) are among the major groups supporting the shopkeepers. Anjuman-e-Tajiran Karachi had ordered a complete shutdown of operations today in anticipation of the nationwide walkout.
The president of the Sindh branch of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran, Javed Shams, declared his support for the nationwide strike, saying, “The political leadership has failed.” Shams went on to say that today, all businesses in Sindh, whether large and small, will be closed. “We oppose the increase in taxes and electricity costs.”
He claimed that the “Trader Friendly Scheme” is unacceptable in its current form and that the ruling class wants to deny the people and the business class the ability to survive. The strike call has also received support from the Karachi Electronics Dealers Association. According to KEDA President Muhammad Rizwan, every trade union from Khyber to Karachi is taking part in the walkout.
“The strike may last longer if the issues are not resolved,” said Rizwan. Atiq Mir, the president of the All Karachi Traders Union, described the strike as one of the citizens, not of traders. “Inflation worries the average man.”
KP and Punjab both observe strikes
Following the Central Traders Association of Pakistan’s call for a nationwide strike, all business centers in Punjab, including Vehari, have closed. This includes all markets, including those on Club Road, Jinnah Road, Luddun Road, Rail Bazaar, Choori Bazar, and Multan Road.
In support of the request, the group president said that the traders were subject to “cruel taxes” levied by the government. All main and small markets in the inner city of Gujranwala, including the Steel, Sanitary, and Cloth markets, as well as the ones in the Satellite Town, will be closed. The demand for a strike has also received support from the city’s mobile phone organization.
Trade unions are calling for the cancellation of the increase in electricity bills and a decrease in tax rates, while traders’ organizations are observing the strike in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Trade associations have erected protest camps in front of the blocked markets, which include Sadar Bazaar, Shafi Market, Qisa Khwani, and Khyber Bazaar.
Thanks to the backing of the traders’ association, traders’ union, and traders’ action committee, traders in Dera Ismail Khan are conducting a full strike, closing all commercial establishments. Along with core commercial centers and small- and large-scale companies closing in support of the strike, traders are also on strike in several cities in Sindh, including Nawabshah, Tando Allahyar, and others.
“Professional taxes, withholding taxes, and monthly taxes are anti-business policies,” stated Waqar Memon, president of the Sindh Traders Association. Following the walkout, traders in Punjabi cities, notably Chichawatani, closed their markets and commercial centers, demanding that the government remove “cruel” levies and lower the cost of power.
However, JI in Charsadda has also demanded a walkout by traders, citing the closure of all food stores, including lodging facilities. The religio-political party had said earlier this week that it would undertake a nationwide shutter-down strike on August 28 (today) to put further pressure on the coalition government to give aid to the public.
The party’s announcement came after successful negotiations with the government over demands to reduce high power tariffs and review agreements with Independent Power Producers—which have come under scrutiny as individuals are facing large bills that are attributed to capacity payments made to these producers—led to the postponement of the party’s 14-day sit-in on August 9.
