FAISALABAD: All trader associations of Faisalabad Clock Tower bazaars and adjoining areas have set a 72-hour headline for withdrawal of withholding tax otherwise they will observe a shutdown strike on Aug 1.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Shahid Razzaq Sakka, president of City Anjuman-i-Tajran, categorically said that traders would not pay the withholding tax. He said traders would observe a strike on Aug 1 and if the government stood adamant, they would go for an indefinite shutdown.

Traders of different markets were also present on the occasion.

Sakka said traders had helped Nawaz Sharif come into power and “now people at the helm are forcing the traders to go for strike against their own government”.

Sakka criticised the parliamentarians for their silence on the issue of imposition of tax and asked them to support the ‘genuine’ demands of the traders.

He asked the government to introduce an ‘equitable’ tax system in the country to get rid of the undocumented economy and withdraw all kinds of incentives being offered to certain sectors.

Traders have also supported the Lahore traders strike for Aug 5.

UAF to start O-Level programme

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has decided to start O-Level and FA programmes through the Laboratory School and College System.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad here on Wednesday to review the performance of the school and college system being run under the university.

Classes will be started at the Community College PARS during the coming academic year. Dr Ahmed said the PhD degree-holder faculty would teach students of O-Level and FA. Ms Sobia has been appointed as a focal person for the O-Level classes programme.

The vice-chancellor congratulated two female students of the Laboratory High School — Fatima Mehmood, who secured an overall second position with 1,076 marks and Khadija, who clinched third position in the general group with 1,015 marks.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2015

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