Cracks emergein traders' ranks over strike
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Cracks have emerged within the traders' community over the planned strike on Saturday, with some groups calling it off after negotiations with the government, while others remain adamant about going ahead with it.
Following talks with officials, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh announced that the nationwide shutter-down strike had been called off, claiming the government had accepted the business community's demands. He added that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would not exercise its newly granted powers for the time being.
"The trade bodies of the entire country are with us and the federation does not want to fight with anyone," said the FPCCI president, adding, "We want to resolve issues through negotiations."
He said the traders had reservations about various amendments to the Finance Act while the government has assured to review Article 37A of the Finance Act.
The FPCCI president said a four-member committee has been formed. However, he said a strike may be observed sporadically.
In a twist, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) took a strong stand and announced that the strike would not be called off until a written assurance is received from the authorities.
Speaking at a press conference, KCCI President Javed Balwani said that a meeting was held on Friday with the government negotiation committee chaired by Haroon Akhtar Khan, in the presence of minister of state for finance and the FBR chief. "The government accepted most of our demands verbally, but we were not given a written assurance, so we have decided to go ahead with the strike," the KCCI president said.
He said that all markets in Karachi, including Jodia Bazaar, Electronics Market, Fruit and Vegetable Market, and other business centers will remain closed on Saturday. The Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dealers Association, All Pakistan Restaurant Association, and the city's transport organizations have also backed the strike.
He warned of expanding the scope of protest if their demands were not met by the next meeting. Initially, the strike will be observed for one day, then two days and then for the entire week if needed, the KCCI president warned
"We work for 7 days, while the bureaucracy works for 5 days, even then, we are pushing against the wall," said Balwani, adding, "We are tax-paying traders, and unnecessary burden should not be put on us."
Fruit and Vegetable Market President Abdul Qadeem Agha said, "We reject strict laws like 37A and 37B of the FBR, adding the tax on 0.2 million cash transactions is also unacceptable."
Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dealers Association President Muhammad Minhaj Gulfam said that all electronics and mobile markets in Karachi will remain closed today.
Meanwhile, Anjuman Tajiran President Mujahid Maqsood Butt also announced observing strike today. He said the business community will not be trapped by government tactics.
He demanded that the government immediately withdraw all the black laws of the FBR, adding, "We will not retreat under any circumstances until the abolition of FBR's controversial powers. He announced that all wholesale markets in Lahore will remain closed on Saturday.
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