KARACHI: The traders of the metropolis observed a complete shutter-down strike against the imposition of withholding tax on all banking transaction for non-filers. All major markets and business centers remained closed the whole day.
Various traders association, including Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Small Traders Association, Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association, Alliance of Arambagh Market Association, Dandia Bazar, Tariq Road Traders Welfare Association etc had given a strike call against the imposition of the withholding tax.
The main commercial centers including Saddar, Tariq Road, Arambag, Clifton, Defence, Aurangzeb Market, Jodia Bazar, Ranchore Lane, Boulten Market, Golimar Market, Gizri Market, Urdu Bazar, Jama Cloth, Akbar Road remained shut since the morning.
Talking to Customs Today, president Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Atiq Mir said the whole traders community by observing peaceful strike gave a strong message to the federal government. “We the traders, reject the imposition of withholding tax”, he added.
The present government had imposed 0.6 withholding tax on bank transaction which is sheer injustice with the traders. “The government is following the dictation of the foreign donors agencies causing serious difficulties for the local traders affecting business activities”, he added.
Atiq Mir said that the government should abstain from imposing the withholding tax and work towards providing relief to the industry and ultimately to the common man. “It seems there is no economic policy in the country, nor there is any economist who could bring in the justified tax system”, he opined.
The traders have demanded the federal government to immediately withdraw the tax otherwise the traders would announce indefinite shutter down strike against the new levy.
