Islamabad/Lahore/Karachi:
The national merchants strike led to generalized closures of the partial and complete market throughout Pakistan on Saturday, and Islamabad is not affected as companies continued to operate in the Federal Capital, said Express News.
The strike, convened protest against expanded powers granted to the Federal Income Board (FBR), divided merchants into opposite camps. The main business centers in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Quetta, Peshawar and several smaller cities observed stops.
In Karachi, markets such as Jodya Bazar, electronic and mobile markets, fruit and vegetable markets and other shopping centers remained closed. The restaurant association of all Pakistan and local transport unions in Karachi also supported the strike.
The president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Bilwani, reaffirmed support for the strike, stating that no written guarantees from the government had been received. He warned that the protests would increase if demands were not met in the next conversations.
In Lahore, all the main commercial areas, including Shah Alam Market, Akbari Mandi, Hall Road, Mall Road, Anarkali and others, remained closed, with the support of all the features of the city’s merchants unions. The Lahore Chamber of Commerce also supported the protest.
The leader of the merchants, Haji Maqsood Butt, declared that the strike was a success and warned that if the FBR continued to “harass” the merchants or exercise “unjustified authority”, more measures would be taken. “We are united and reject forced compliance,” he said.
In Hyderabad, several markets, including Anaj Mandi, Resham Bazaar and Gul Center, were completely closed, while others remained partially open.
The markets also remained closed in Peshawar, Quetta and other urban centers. Merchants demand a reversal of the recently granted FBR execution powers and a formal and written guarantee of policy reviews.
