LAHORE: Traders in Punjab and especially in big cities of the province failed to adopt a unified strategy to hold a complete and shutter down strike against 0.6 percent tax on banking transactions worth over Rs 50, 000.
While All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajaran President Khalid Pervaiz and its Lahore chapter president Maqsood Butt announced a strike, Anjuman-i-Tajiran Pakistan chief Ashraf Bhatti decided not to be part of the protest, pinning his hopes on a meeting called by the Finance Minister which will be also attended by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials and traders to sort out the issue within a couple of days.
The Pakistan Flour Mills Association also announced a country-wide strike for an indefinite period from July 11th, 2015 against the tax on banking transactions and 7percent sales tax on wheat bran.
In the provincial capital Lahore, traders of Shahalam Market, Urdu Bazaar, Liberty Market, Hafeez Centre, Hall Road, Cantonment Board and Jail Road keep their businesses partially closed, while Ichhra market, Anarkali Bazaar, Karim Block market and Township bazaar remained mostly opened.
However, shops on The Mall, in Loha Market and markets in Shahdara remained totally open.
Markets of Ferozpur Road remained opened too as representative of traders Mehboob Serki had announced that they will not be part of any protest and strike in Lahore. More than 50 markets of Ferozpur remained open on Tuesday.
