KOHAT: Mobile phone markets remained closed as the dealers rallied against exorbitant taxation on Monday.

They started the protest rally from Tehsil Gate and marched up to Shah Faisal Gate, demanding withdrawal of 40 per cent tax imposed on the mobile phones which had affected their sales.

They said price of each mobile set had shot up by Rs3,000 to Rs4,000 after the tax and the people had stopped buying.

They said their buyers were mostly young people who were dependent on their parents to purchase the phones.

They said the Dubai-made phones were cheap and people preferred to buy them even though they had no guarantee but were reliable. But tax on them had been increased, they lamented.

The traders said the imported mobile sets were already costly and very few people bought them. The protesters said Pakistan-made sets were also cheaper but had no buyers.

EMPLOYEES ON STRIKE: The staff of Water Supply and Sanitation Company Kohat announced to close down all tubewells during their strike which continued for second consecutive day on Monday against non-payment of salaries for two months.

They also held a rally through the bazaar, and asked the district nazim, tehsil nazim, federal interior minister and adviser to the chief minister to clear their dues.

Earlier, they had boycotted only sanitation services which created garbage mess in the city squares and bazaars.

Last month, the WSSC and tehsil municipal administration staff had embarked on a strike as well, but resumed duties after promises made by the WSSC chief executive officer and the tehsil municipal officer.

They were also demanding payment of arrears of their salary raise and increments blocked for several months.

WSSC media adviser Asma Ali said the local government was facing shortage of funds to pay the salaries.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2019