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Business Recorder
19-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Trade-industry unity makes strike successful
KARACHI: A rare and powerful show of unity between industrialists and traders brought Karachi and other parts of the country resulted in a standstill on Saturday, as businesses observed a shutter-down strike against the government's controversial tax policies introduced under the Finance Act 2025–26. The strike, led by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), drew massive support from major industrial town associations, transporters, and a broad spectrum of trade bodies. It signalled growing frustration with what the business community described as 'harsh, impractical, and anti-business' fiscal measures. In Karachi, the country's economic hub, industrial zones, wholesale markets, commercial districts, and even goods transport services came to a grinding halt. Seven key industrial zones—SITE, Korangi, Landhi, North Karachi, Bin Qasim, SITE Super Highway, and Federal B Area—fully observed the strike. The megacity's commercial lifelines, particularly in District South, remained deserted. Historic markets in the Old City Area such as Kapra Market, Motandas, Kagzi Bazar, Boulton Market, and Jodia Bazar were fully shut. Auto parts hubs, including Garden Market, Plaza Auto Market (MA Jinnah Road), Aurangzeb Market, and Iqbal Centre followed suit. Gold and jewellery traders at Liaquatabad's Sarafa Market also downed shutters, as did timber merchants and paper dealers. In an unusual disruption, Karachi's Sabzi Mandi witnessed near-total inactivity. 'Trucks carrying fruits and vegetables did not arrive today,' said Atta Ur Rehman, a fruits and vegetables retailer. 'This strike has brought the Mandi to a halt—a historic move in recent years.' Goods transporters too halted operations across the city. Malik Shabbar Khan, Patron-in-Chief of the United Goods Transport Alliance, said both his group and the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance suspended bookings nationwide. 'Our trucks have been parked for five days. If the government fails to act, we may consider regular weekly strikes,' he warned. Speaking on the day of the strike, KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani said the unprecedented shutdown sent a clear message to the government about the depth of discontent in the business community. 'This was not an act of rebellion, but a necessary step after repeated government failures to address our legitimate concerns,' Bilwani stated. He expressed gratitude to all associations and traders who supported the call and praised the unity of Karachi's seven industrial zones. While the strike received sweeping support in Karachi and other cities, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) decided to postpone its protest following last-minute talks with the government. This led to a partial division among national trade bodies. Despite this, Mehmood Hamid, President of the All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industry (Karachi Chapter), claimed the strike was an unqualified success. 'The strike spoke louder than words,' he said. 'Markets and industries across Karachi remained shut.' Hamid accused the FPCCI of attempting to divide the movement and neutralize the traders' protest. 'Even so, the momentum remained unbroken. The southern district of Karachi, including all major wholesale and commercial zones, observed a complete closure.' He confirmed that overnight talks between traders and the government failed, triggering the mass-scale shutdown. 'The industry cannot absorb tax measures of this magnitude anymore,' Mehmood Hamid said. 'The government has expanded the FBR's powers to a level where economic activity is now under threat.' He emphasized the need to repeal not only Sections 37A and 37B. 'If the government provides even a 40 percent relaxation and makes sincere efforts to reform the Finance Bill, we will respond constructively,' he added. Support for the strike extended to Hyderabad, where markets in Saddar Bazaar, Resham Bazaar, Anaj Mandi, and Market Tower remained closed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Karachi, Lahore hit by strike against ‘anti-business' tax measures
Pakistan's two largest cities - Karachi and Lahore - faced partial and complete market closures over a strike call by traders against what they called 'anti-business' tax measures introduced in the Finance Act 2025. In the Finance Act, the government expanded the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) powers with Sections 37A and 37B, which empower FBR officials with arbitrary arrests; Section 21(S), which imposes harsh penalties on cash transactions of Rs200,000 or more; mandatory digital invoicing under SRO 709; and the imposition of e-Bilty under Section 40(C). July 19 strike call: govt invites trade leaders for talks The business community termed these measures 'anti-business' and announced a nationwide strike on July 19 (today). They also called for the restoration of the Final Tax Regime for exporters. However, the business community later appeared divided, with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) postponing the protest following talks with the government, while the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) vowing to go ahead with the strike. It is for the first time that a complete strike has been witnessed in Karachi's New Sabzi Mandi. The KCCI spearheaded the strike on Saturday, backed by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI), and others. Meanwhile, Pakistan's capital Islamabad reportedly remained largely affected. United Goods Transport Alliance Patron in Chief Malik Shabbar Khan told Business Recorder that two big transport alliances in the country, including United Goods Transport Alliance and Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, had supported the KCCI. 'Today we have stopped all bookings, but goods transport takes five days to come to a halt,' Khan said. 'What's more, we will be affected by this black law. Let me give you an example, when a goods truck goes to Karachi from Peshawar and comes back, it has to pay around Rs100,000 in terms of tolls and various challans. We talked to the KCCI leaders that if the demands are not fulfilled, we can go on strike once or twice a week. It will be decided later after meeting with the business community.' Veteran fruits merchant Haji Mehboob Shair said, 'It is for the first time in the history of the country that the complete strike has been witnessed in Sabzi Mandi'. According to Shair, a large number of trucks loaded with fruits and vegetables come to the Sabzi Mandi daily, but they did not come on Saturday. Meanwhile, main markets and commercial areas in Karachi remained closed till filing of this report at 3pm, while small number markets in Clifton, Landhi and other areas remained open in the metropolitan city. Finance Act 2025 tightens tax rules for businesses, filers KCCI president Muhammad Jawed Bilwani briefed the media late Friday night with other business leaders about a meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries Haroon Akhtar Khan attended by a number of chambers via Zoom. 'Business leaders were given no surety in writing,' he said, announcing the KCCI decision to proceed with the strike. LCCI president Mian Abu Zar Shaad stated that Lahore chamber had decided to join the strike in solidarity with the broader business community. Hyderabad traders also supported the strike call, with commercial areas of the city, including Saddar Bazaar, Resham Bazaar, Anaj Mandi, Market Tower, and others remaining closed during the day. FPCCI postponed the strike - a call that was followed by chambers and associations of Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Quetta, Khanewal, Multan, Bajaur and others.
