KOHAT: The business community took out a big rally here on Tuesday against heavy taxation, saying the government should have taken them into confidence before imposing various taxes on them.

The rally taken out from Zargran Chowk passed through the main bazaar and it turned into a big procession at Shah Faisal Gate. It was addressed by bazaar association president Azmat Bangash, Tajir Action Committee president Abid Khan, mobile phones association president Zahir Khan, Israr Shinwari, Mansoor Paracha and others.

They said that the government should have imposed the taxes gradually instead of putting a huge burden on the businessmen at once. They said that they were not against taxation, but it should be first explained to them item wise. They said that they had been burdened with double taxation as the provincial government had also imposed taxes on them.

They demanded of the government to provide them with details of all taxes on goods and other items. They said that people had been burdened through rise in prices of medicines and even milk needed by children for healthy growth had not been spared from tax. The medical stores union said that the price of a tin of milk had been raised to Rs1,200.

POLIO ERADICATION: Deputy commissioner, Hangu, Mohammad Hafeez Abdullah has said that many Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia and UAE, have eradicated polio by using its vaccine, which is hundred per cent halal and has no ingredient of birth control.

Addressing a seminar at Hangu campus of Kohat University of Science and Technology on Tuesday, Mr Abdullah said that the vaccine had been recommended by 160 top ulema around the world.

He urged the teachers and students to spread awareness in the society of efficacy of polio drops.

Meanwhile, the administration sealed an outlet of kababs and impounded all it stock due for sale on meatless day on Tuesday. Also, several milk and grocery shops were fined during raids in Bilitang and city.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2019