Withholding tax: Traders observe nationwide strike

The strike was also observed in Mastung, Khuzdar, Kalat, Nukundi, Duki, Dalbandine, Chaman, Sibi etc

HARIPUR/ SUKKUR/ RAWALPINDI/ QUETTA/ PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD/ HYDERABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI:

Traders observed a nationwide shutter down strike on Wednesday to protest a 0.3% withholding tax levied on each bank transaction of over Rs50,000.

In Karachi, the commercial hub of the country, major markets — including Saddar, Karim Centre, Light House, Bolden Market, Bohri Bazaar, Zainab Market, Regal Chowk, Clifton, Plaza, Jamia Cloth, Uni Centre, Zamzama, Shah Faisal and Haidery — remained closed.

Similarly, all markets in Hyderabad, the second largest city of Sindh, also remained closed from morning till 3pm on the call of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. And in Sukkur too, a complete shutter down strike was observed, with traders staging rallies against the imposition of the tax.

In Punjab’s provincial capital, Lahore, wholesale and retail markets, including Akbari Market, Shah Alam Market, Circular Road, Hall Road, The Mall, Gulberg, Ferozepur Road, Jail Road, Anarkali, Liberty Market, Hafeez Centre, Urdu Bazaar, Badami Bagh, Azam Cloth Market, Multan Road and Moon Market, remained shuttered.

Speaking to media, All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran president Khalid Pervaiz said that the traders had decided to continue their struggle against the ‘unjust’ tax and would not give in to any pressure. He said the traders would call an indefinite strike if the government did not withdraw the tax.

However, according to APP, shops remained opened and business activities remained as usual in Punjab’s industrial city of Faisalabad. It reported that almost all shops and business markets — including Jhang Bazaar, Bhowana Bazaar, Aminpur Bazaar, Chiniot Bazaar, Katchery Bazaar, Rail Bazaar, Karkhana Bazaar and Montgomery Bazaar — remained open for the whole day.

However, traders in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad fully responded to the strike call. Traders in Raja Bazaar, Saddar, Murree Road, Aabpara, Melody, Jinnah Super, Peshawar Morr and Sabzi Mandi kept their businesses closed. Major shopping centres and plazas as well as owners of small eateries also observed the strike.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, business centres remained deserted and a complete strike was witnessed in the provincial capital Peshawar, where major business centres — including Khyber Bazaar, Shoba Bazaar, Qissa Khwani, Pipal Mandi, Shaheen Bazaar and Saddar — remained shut.

Traders in Mardan joined the country-wide protest and also observed a complete strike. Traders in DI Khan also kept their businesses closed till 11am. However, traders in Hazara observed a partial strike against the withholding tax. Shops, markets and plazas within the limits of the Tehsil Municipal Administration remained closed while businesses in the Cantonment Board remained closed till noon.

In Balochistan, a complete shutter down strike was observed. The strike call was given by the Trader Union Balochistan and was supported by traders’ groups across the province.

In Quetta, all business centres and commercial establishments — including markets on Jinnah Road, Abdul Sattar Road, Kansi Road, Almdar Road, Mission Road, McChangi Road, Prince Road, Liaqut Bazaar, Fatima Jinnah Road, Masjid Road, Kanwari Road, Archar Road — were closed. Traffic was thin on the roads and routine life in the provincial capital remained paralysed for the day.

The strike was also observed in Mastung, Khuzdar, Kalat, Nukundi, Duki, Dalbandine, Chaman, Sibi, Panjgur, Jaffarabad, Muslim Bhag, Killa Abdullah, Loralai and other parts of Balochistan.


Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2015.