The business community representatives in Karachi have announced a citywide closure of markets and commercial centres on August 28 in protest against recent 'trader-friendly schemes' and inflated electricity bills.
The announcement was made during a press conference by the business representatives Atiq Mir, Rizwan Irfan, Sharjeel Goplani, Mehmood Hamid, and others.
They disclosed that during a consultative meeting it was decided to halt tax and electricity bill payments. The representatives stressed that all business organisations are united in their refusal to accept the current schemes, high taxes, and expensive electricity rates.
The business community plans to strike and protest, demanding of the government to take notice of the financial damages. If their concerns are not paid any heed, they may resort to a civil disobedience movement, potentially leading to a situation similar to that in Bangladesh.
Addressing the media, Rizwan Irfan announced that all Karachi markets, large and small, will be shut down on August 28. He criticised the imposition of Rs60,000 in forced taxes per month, insisting that taxation should be based solely on income.
Sharjeel Goplani warned that if the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) did not cease issuing notices, the community might withdraw their deposits from banks, risking their insolvency. He noted that 467 Pakistani companies have already registered with the Dubai Chamber, with more moving to Saudi Arabia and other countries.
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