Islamabad traders defy strike call

The shutter-down strike call given by some trader groups against the Federal Board of Revenue's (FBR)'s expanded powers had little to no impact in Islamabad, where business activities continued as usual on Saturday.

The federal capital witnessed uninterrupted commercial activity, with residents engaged in routine shopping throughout the day.

All major markets, shopping malls, commercial centres, and supermarkets — including Jinnah Super, G-9 Markaz, Blue Area, G-10, and I-8 — remained open, and stores operated normally.

Neither the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) nor any major traders' alliance announced participation in the strike call given by Karachi and Lahore chambers against tax measures and arrest powers of the federal tax authority.

According to the Chamber, recent negotiations with the government addressed the concerns of the business community, and assurances were given to resolve key issues. As a result, the decision was made to keep businesses open in Islamabad.

In other parts of the country, however, factions of the trader community did call for protests and strikes, citing concerns over the FBR's increased powers, particularly the crackdown on non-filers and the broad authority granted to field officers to conduct raids. These measures, they argue, are fuelling uncertainty and distrust among business owners.

Nevertheless, no strike-related closures or demonstrations were reported anywhere in Islamabad.

On Friday, talks between the government and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) had concluded on a positive note, calling for the postponement of the nationwide shutter-down strike initially scheduled for Saturday. However, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) maintained its call for a strike, citing unresolved concerns with the Finance Act 2025.

A special committee was formed to address the grievances of traders regarding the controversial Finance Act. The committee, chaired by Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Industries, Haroon Akhtar, convened with representatives from various chambers of commerce to discuss the amendments in the act.

The negotiations saw progress, with a consensus reached on several amendments. Among the most notable changes was the decision to remove Clause 9 of the act, which had been a key point of contention for traders. A proposal to amend Article 37A was also tabled, with the government agreeing to review it further.

Despite these developments, KCCI President Jawed Bilwani expressed that while their demands were largely accepted, no written assurance was provided.

In contrast, the FPCCI, led by Atif Ikram Sheikh, reached an agreement with the government to call off the nationwide strike. He thanked the authorities for their serious engagement and expressed hope that the prime minister would approve the proposed amendments.

Effect in other cities

Meanwhile, the strike led to widespread partial and complete market closures across Pakistan on Saturday. The strike divided traders into opposing camps. Major business centres in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Quetta, Peshawar, and several smaller cities observed shutdowns.