Three, four, shut the door: Business centres in K-P remain deserted as traders go on strike

Say protests will intensify if withholding tax is not abolished

ABBOTTABAD/ PESHAWAR/ MARDAN/ DI KHAN: Business centres remained deserted as traders observed a complete shutter-down strike in various part of the province on Wednesday against the imposition of a withholding tax of 0.3% on banking transactions over Rs50, 000.

Khyber Bazaar, Shoba Bazaar, Qissa Khwani, Pipal Mandi, Shaheen Bazaar and Saddar were closed. However, vendors who were selling vegetables and fruits were allowed to go about their business as usual.



“We do not mind paying taxes to the government, but when something is decided without taking us into confidence, we will not accept it,” Peshawar Chamber of Small Traders and Industry President Ahtesham Haleem told The Express Tribune. “The imposition of withholding taxes has encouraged the practice of hawala. Traders withdraw money on a daily basis and cannot afford to pay the levy.”

According to Haleem, the business community will observe a complete shutter-down strike on October 7 in the country.

“If the decision to impose the levy is not withdrawn, traders will besiege offices of Federal Board of Revenue,” he added.

Mardan

Traders in Mardan joined the country-wide protest and also observed a strike against the imposition of the levy. All markets in Mardan were closed. A leader of Anjuman-e-Tajiran, Ihsanullah Bacha, told The Express Tribune that the strike was largely successful.

“I visited the markets personally to see if shops were open,” he said. “Everything was closed.”

Bacha added the traders were already paying taxes and the withholding tax would be an additional burden.

“If the government wants to promote trade and business in the country, it should abolish the withholding tax as soon as possible,” he said. “However, if the government sticks to its guns, the protests will take a violent turn.”

Hazara

However, traders in Hazara observed a partial strike against withholding tax. Shops, markets and plazas within the limits of Tehsil Municipal Administration remained closed while businesses in Cantonment Board remained partially closed till noon. Bazaars in Havelian, Mansehra and Battagram remained open for business.

DI Khan

Traders in DI Khan also closed their businesses. The strike was observed till 11am. A rally was held in Topanwalla Bazaar and protesters marched towards Chugalla. The protest was led by Senior Naib President Chaudhary Jamil Ahmed, General Secretary Haji Muhammad Ramazan, and Abdul Qudoos Awan.

Addressing protesters, Ahmed said the business community in DI Khan have vehemently rejected the withholding tax.

“I urge the government to take back its decision,” he added

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th,  2015.