LAHORE: Despite announcement of calling off strike by different traders’ bodies, a large number of businessmen and goods transporters under the banner of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Khalid Pervaiz Group have announced to observe countrywide strike today (Wednesday) against the imposition of 0.3 per cent withholding tax on banking transactions on non-filers.
This is the third time in two weeks when the traders are observing strike across the country. All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran, led by Naeem Mir, also marked strike day on Aug 1 against the undue taxation measures of the government.
The Khalid Pervaiz’s faction had also observed a strike at the end of July when it successfully closed down wholesale markets of Punjab against the imposition of the WHT. Their successful strike compelled the government to revisit its decision. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, after that strike, held a meeting with traders in which the withholding tax was halved but was not revoked fully. However, the said group of traders had refused to accept the government’s decision and had given a countrywide strike call for August 5.
Khalid Pervaiz has declared that the country will see another historic shutter down on Wednesday. He said his group is being supported by transporters organizations, Karachi’s major trade bodies and Balochistan’s whole business community. He informed that traders of Balochistan did not observe shutter down on last Saturday and announced to close market on Aug 5. He claimed that more than 50 trade bodies have announced to join the shutter down on August 5 (today).
Meanwhile, Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Ijaz A Mumtaz said that strikes would cause undue damage to the economic activities and hit the government efforts aimed at progress and prosperity of the country hard. He said that government would have to solve the issue through negotiation to deter the traders from more strikes.
