Pharmacists announce strike from July 19
The joint action committee of pharmacists on Thursday announced a nationwide indefinite strike from July 19 against what they said was the imposition of upfront tax by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Meanwhile, medical stores remained shut across Rawalpindi on Thursday after talks between pharmacists and the FBR over slapping of a direct tax.
Medical stores on Murree Road, Mall Road, Bohar Bazaar, Saidpur Road, Hospital Road, Commercial Market and other places remained completely closed.
The joint action committee forcibly closed down some opened medical stores and pharmacies in different areas of Rawalpindi. It also set up protest camps on Mall Road and Bohar Bazaar.
Joint Action Committee Chairman Zahid Bakhtawari and other office-bearers, including Arshad Awan, Syed Sirajuddin, Imran Rashid, and Muhammad Zakaria Qureshi, addressed a press conference in the protest camp on Mall Road, stating that they were compelled to close medical stores.
They demanded the FBR to withdraw the upfront tax and, in return, suggested slapping tax at the source, registration of medical stores with NTN number and registration of pharmacists as filers.
They further said that talks with FBR officials continued for three hours and they wanted a solution so that patients did not suffer but the authority did not meet their demand.
The committee chairman stated that the fourth wave of coronavirus has already taken its toll and the imposition of advance tax on pharmacies and the complex documentation was further creating difficulties for them.
Bakhtawari maintained that they have no option other than to go on an indefinite strike from July 19 (Monday). He added that the government and the FBR would be responsible if patients faced difficulties due to the suspension of drug supplies.
Awan reiterated that profit margins of traders, retailers and chemists had badly been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. He said that the pharmacists were on the same page and their strike will continue until the advance tax was withdrawn.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2021.