SHANGLA/BAJAUR: Trade unions on Sunday unanimously rejected the proposed plan of the government to impose taxes in the Malakand division, terming the step as the economic murder of the people of a region already reeling from natural disasters and militancy.

Speaking at a meeting held in Bisham city, the traders said their economic condition was worse as they had been devastated by terrorism and natural disasters, but now the government planned to impose taxes upon them ‘forcefully’.

Bisham traders’ association president Mohammad Zada chaired the meeting.

On the occasion, Mr Zada claimed the traders won’t pay a single penny for what he said families of politicians and bureaucrats. He said on the call of Malakand division trade federation, a complete shutter down strike would be observed on May 14 (Tuesday) across the region, including Shangla.

“When the states of Dir and Swat were merged into Pakistan, the government had inked an agreement that Malakand division would be exempted from all types of taxes for 100 years, but despite that we are paying multiple taxes directly and indirectly, which is a violation of that agreement,” the Bisham trade union president said.

Announce shutter down strike tomorrow

Hammad Umar, the union’s general secretary, said small traders were not capable of bearing the burden of more taxes.

He said entrepreneurs engaged in online work or their loved ones sending remittances from abroad were paying the government from 22 to 35 per cent taxes, but in return the government did not use a single penny on their welfare.

Attaullah Khan Bishami, another trader, said they would not pay taxes at any cost. He said the federal government was already not paying electricity dues to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, causing the province economic distress.

In Bajaur, representatives of various trade associations on Sunday expressed apprehension over the government’s plan to impose taxes in Malakand division from July 1, and announced to launch a protest movement if the decision wasn’t withdrawn immediately.

The announcement was made during a meeting of representatives of traders’ associations held in Sadiqabad Bazaar. All Bajaur Traders’ Association president Mohammad Hamid Sufi was in the chair.

They said like other parts of the division, Bajaur was also affected by militancy and natural disasters, and the traders were not in a position to pay more taxes.

It is necessary to mention here that Bajaur was part of the Malakand division, but it was included in the merged districts, which have also been exempted from taxes following their merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.

The traders vowed to show strong resistance if the government went ahead with its plan. The speakers said imposition of taxes would further stress out the population of the region, which was already hit by militancy and natural disasters.

The leaders asked the local lawmakers, elders and political figures to play their due role in forcing the government to withdraw the decision.

The traders also complained most bazaars and commercial centres in Bajaur had been without electricity for several days. They warned to observe a shutter down strike against the Tribal Electric Supply Company if the issue wasn’t resolved immediately.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2024