Brick kiln owners protest against sales tax

Brick kiln operators threaten to take strike nationwide from first Ramazan.

PESHAWAR:

Bricks Kiln Owners Association (BKOA), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter, held a protest demonstration on Saturday against the imposition of 16% sales tax and demanded withdrawal of the tax, threatening to continue the protest otherwise.

BKOA President Satar Khan and General Secretary Haji Aeen Khan led the protest. Addressing the activists, they said that the imposition of 16% tax was an atrocity as their business had already been damaged due to terrorism.

The demonstrators were carrying banners and placards inscribed in favour of their demands at Sher Shah Road outside Cantonment Railway Station.

They further said that the tax will directly affect the general masses and will cause a rise in unemployment because labour will be laid off due to rising costs as a result of imposition of tax.

If the government didn’t take back its decision then they will continue protests and from first Ramazan, there will be countrywide closure of kilns.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2011.