Some trade bodies back down after government talks; others insist on complete shutdown without written assurances
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI/LAHORE:
The traders’ community appears divided over the planned nationwide shutter-down strike scheduled for Saturday, as negotiations with the government have led some factions to withdraw while others remain firm in their protest.
Following discussions with government officials, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh announced that the strike had been called off. He claimed that the government had agreed to address the business community’s concerns, particularly over recent controversial powers granted to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
According to Sheikh, the government has agreed not to implement the new FBR powers immediately, and trade bodies across the country were reportedly onboard with the FPCCI’s position. “We do not wish to engage in confrontation,” he said. “Our aim is to resolve matters through dialogue.” He further noted that a four-member committee has been formed and that Article 37A of the Finance Act would be reviewed. Still, he left the door open for possible localized protests.
However, in Karachi, the mood was markedly different. The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) rejected the FPCCI’s announcement, stating the strike would proceed as planned unless written assurances are provided by the government.
At a press conference on Friday, KCCI President Javed Balwani said that while the government verbally agreed to most of the traders’ demands in a meeting chaired by Haroon Akhtar Khan — attended by the Minister of State for Finance and the FBR chairman — no official documentation was provided.
“In the absence of a written commitment, we will go ahead with the strike,” Balwani declared, adding that all markets in Karachi — including Jodia Bazaar, the Electronics Market, the Fruit and Vegetable Market, and other major commercial hubs — would remain closed. The strike is also supported by the Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dealers Association, the All Pakistan Restaurant Association, and city-wide transport unions.
Balwani warned that the protest could escalate: “We’ll begin with a one-day strike, extend it to two days, and even a full week if our concerns are not addressed.” He criticized the government’s handling of traders, saying, “We work seven days a week, while the bureaucracy works five — yet we are the ones being cornered. We pay our taxes and should not be unfairly burdened.”
Fruit and Vegetable Market President Abdul Qadeem Agha voiced strong opposition to Sections 37A and 37B of the FBR laws, particularly condemning the tax on cash transactions exceeding Rs. 200,000. Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dealers Association President Muhammad Minhaj Gulfam confirmed that all electronics and mobile markets in the city would remain shut on Saturday.
In Lahore, Anjuman Tajiran President Mujahid Maqsood Butt also announced his group’s participation in the strike. He accused the government of using divide-and-rule tactics to neutralize the protest and demanded the immediate repeal of what he termed “black laws” enacted by the FBR.
“The business community will not be misled or silenced,” Butt said. “We will continue our protest until the FBR’s controversial powers are withdrawn.” He confirmed that all wholesale markets in Lahore would remain closed for the day.
