Traders adamant about August 28 strike

Warn against FBR teams coming to markets, demand rollback of power tariff hike

KARACHI:

The leaders of Markazi Anjuman Tajran and Sindh Tajir Ittehad have announced that they are holding a strike on August 28 because they are fighting for the cause of people.

Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club they said if the electricity is not revised downwards and the contracts of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are not cancelled, our next move will be a two-day or indefinite closure of all markets across the city.

The press conference was attended by Markazi Anjuman Tajran President Kashif Chaudhary, business leaders Atiq Mir, Waqar Hameed Memon, Abdul Rahim Agha, Lala Furqan Sheikh, Sheikh Habib, Rana Akram, Asif Gulfam and representative associations of small and big markets of Karachi.

Kashif Chaudhary said there will be a shutter-down strike across the country including Karachi and Sindh on August 28 to save trade and the economy and prevent closure of industries. This strike is not for the leadership of the traders, but the traders of Karachi and Pakistan are doing it to save their businesses.

The strike is against expensive electricity and paying Rs2800 billion to IPP thugs and 13 taxes on electricity. No individual of the nation can pay such an expensive electricity bill. Businesspersons are paying their bills by selling their assets. Industries are shutting down due to high bills. Unemployment is increasing. The strike and struggle will not stop without lowering the price of electricity, abolishing taxes, and canceling the contracts of IPPs.

He further said that imposing a tax of Rs60,000 per month on shops is cruel. Along with the rent of the shops, the FBR will now have to be employed in the form of tax. Tax returns should be introduced in simple and easy Urdu language. No trader will pay monthly advance tax. We reject notices. No merchant will receive notice. If the FBR teams go to the markets, they will be surrounded in protests.

He said that the strike can not be stopped based on intimidation, rigging, and greed. Tajir Dost Scheme has to be withdrawn. Nothing is acceptable without it. Now we will negotiate with the Prime Minister of Pakistan. No one below has been empowered to withdraw the Tajir Dost Scheme under the IMF deal.

IMF had asked for no tax on food items, milk, medicine, and stationery but the budget imposed taxes on basic food items, medicines, milk, poultry, and fodder as well. We are not ready to accept these taxes in any case.

Business leader Atiq Mir said the rulers turned out to be traitors and usurpers. They do not want to relieve people. Instead of relieving the starving, grain was taxed. Electricity was made expensive while people were committing suicide due to electricity bills. Business is not only difficult but it is in crisis. The rulers did not stop their extravaganzas but increased our difficulties.

He further said every class is suffering. Even school books were taxed. The rulers have come down on the agenda of ruining the country. The situation in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is in front of our eyes.