LOWER DIR: The Lower Dir Chamber of Commerce and Industries on Sunday threatened shutter down and wheel-jam strike in case the federal government abolished the tax-free status of the Malakand division.

In a statement issued here, the chamber president Mian Noor Alam and senior vice-president Khalid Iqbal said the traders’ community would not let the government impose taxes in Malakand division.

They said the successive governments had maintained the tax-free status of Malakand division for genuine reasons under a constitutional cover.

They said the present government was trying to abolish the tax-free status of the region and impose all kinds of taxes on people.

The chamber leaders said the region had been badly affected by militancy, military operations, flash floods and earthquakes during the last two decades. They said heads of most of the families were working abroad to earn livelihoods as the region lacked industries and trade activity.

They demanded of the government to maintain the status quo and avoid testing the nerves of local people. They said the people, especially the business community, would strongly resist the imposition of taxes in the division.

Meanwhile, a baby girl, identified as Sumama, 4, of Tarnao village in Adenzai was found dead in a water tank of a block factory on Sunday, the residents said. They said the minor had gone missing on Saturday evening.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2022