Islamabad/Karachi/Lahore:
The cracks have emerged within the merchants’ community on the planned strike on Saturday, and some groups canceled it after negotiations with the government, while others remain firm about moving forward.
After the conversations with the officials, the president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Pakistan (FPCCI), Atif Ikram Sheikh, announced that the national closing strike had been canceled, claiming that the government had accepted the demands of the business community. He added that the Federal Income Board (FBR) would not exercise its powers recently granted at the moment.
“The commercial agencies throughout the country are with us and the Federation does not want to fight with anyone,” said the president of FPCCI, added: “We want to solve problems through negotiations.”
He said that merchants had reservations on several amendments to the Finance Law, while the Government has claimed to review article 37a of the Finance Law.
The president of FPCCI said that a four -member committee has formed. However, he said that a strike can be observed sporadically.
In a turn, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry took a strong position and announced that the strike would not be canceled until a written guarantee of the authorities is received.
Speaking at a press conference, the president of Kcci, Javed Balwani, said that a meeting was held on Friday with the Government’s negotiation committee chaired by Haroon Akhtar Khan, in the presence of the Minister of State for Finance and the head of FBR. “The government accepted most of our demands verbally, but they did not give us a written guarantee, so we have decided to move forward with the strike,” said Kci president.
E said that all markets in Karachi, including Jodia Bazaar, the electronic market, the fruit and vegetable market, and other business centers will remain closed on Saturday. The Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dealers association, the entire Pakistan restaurant association and the city’s transport organizations have also supported the strike.
He warned by expanding the scope of the protest if his demands were not fulfilled at the next meeting. Initially, the strike will be observed for one day, then two days and then throughout the week if necessary, warned the president of Kcci.
“We work for 7 days, while the bureaucracy works for 5 days, even then, we are pressing against the wall,” said Balwani, adding: “We are to the merchants that we pay taxes, and the unnecessary burden should not be put on us.”
The president of the fruit and vegetable market, Abdul Qadem Agha, said: “We reject strict laws such as 37a and 37B of the FBR, adding the tax to 0.2 million transactions in cash is also unacceptable.”
Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dystonicers Association, Muhammad Minhaj Gulfam, said all electronic and mobile markets in Karachi will remain closed today.
Meanwhile, the president of Anjuman Tajiran, Mujahid Maqsood Butt, also announced the observation strike today. He said that the business community will not be trapped by government tactics.
He demanded that the Government immediately withdraw all the black laws of the FBR, adding: “We will not retire under any circumstance until the abolition of the controversial powers of FBR. He announced that all wholesale markets in Lahore will remain closed on Saturday.
