With limited room for subsidies and heavy reliance on indirect taxes, future budget measures could put upward pressure on prices, particularly affecting urban consumers. Photo (file)
RAWALPINDI:
Representatives of 15 major commodity and food trade bodies, including vegetables, fruits, meat, milk, groceries, chicken, eggs, bakers, hotels and tandoor unions, announced a large protest rally at Liaquat Bagh Chowk at 3 pm on Tuesday (morning).
At a joint press conference at the Rawalpindi Press Club, they rejected what they called excessive taxes, high fines, arrests, shop closures and the “three days jail, three days shop closure” policy during Ramadan.
In the second phase, they announced complete cessation of sale of milk, yogurt, meat, chicken, eggs, groceries, bakery products, roti, flour and sugar across the district.
They also threatened to close 300,000 shops across the city and hand over their keys to the deputy commissioner as a sign of protest.
The announcement was made by Central Anjuman Tajran President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha, Hotels, Restaurants and Bakers Association President Chaudhry Farooq, Grocery Union President Saleem Pervez Butt, Nanbai Association President Shafiq Qureshi, Furniture Association President Sardar Saqib, Fresh Milk Association President Malik Waqar, president of Poultry, Zaheer Abbas Abbasi, president of Meat Association, Rahat Javed, and presidents of trade unions of 50 markets.
They claimed that most of the business leaders belong to the Pakistan Muslim League-N and that the city’s National Assembly members have failed to resolve their problems.
They alleged that the district administration, Punjab Revenue Authority, Food Department, police, magistrates and Food Authority had made their lives miserable.
They said 17 types of taxes had been imposed. The Punjab Revenue Authority, they said, requires traders to collect 16 per cent tax from consumers on every sale and submit it. “Why should we fulfill this duty?” they asked.
They allege that the deputy commissioner publishes “fictitious rate lists” and now says traders will face three days in jail and three days of shop closure for selling at higher prices.
“Are we selling narcotics?” They questioned and added that they cannot buy an item for Rs 100 and sell it for Rs 80. They demanded that if the administration wants controlled prices, it should provide the goods itself.
They said different departments carry out raids one after another, threatening arrests and imprisonment.
They announced that protests would be held at all important places in Rawalpindi. They also opposed a new sanitation tax.
