ISLAMABAD: The traders’ community on Friday announced that it would hold a countrywide strike on August 28 against heavy taxation, inflated electricity bills and the ‘Tajir Dost Scheme’.

Addressing a joint press conference at the National Press Club, President Markazi Tanzeem-i-Tajran Pakistan Mohammad Kashif Chaudhry, President All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajran Ajmal Baloch and other leaders announced that traders across the country would observe a complete shutterdown on August 28.

Some months ago, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introduced the ‘Tajir Dost Scheme’ to bring traders and wholesalers into the formal tax structure as required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“We reject this scheme,” they said, urging the government to withdraw it. They said withholding tax on eatable items should also be withdrawn.

The participants of the press conference demanded the government to reduce electricity tariff and end the slab system in electricity bills. They also demanded a withdrawal in the recent increase in income tax slabs for salaried persons and businessmen.

Moreover, they demanded that the government revisit their agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) as the people of the country were being forced to pay inflated bills, which was now well beyond their capabilities.

Additionally, the traders demanded that the government withdraw Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) 236G and 236H. Section 236G refers to advance tax on sales to distributors, dealers and wholesalers and section 236H refers to advance tax on sales to retailers as per the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. They said that people of Pakistan and traders had been paying heavy taxes but government officials were enjoying taxpayers’ money in the shape of free electricity, fuel and vehicles.

According to traders, government officials including the prime minister, president and cabinet members should use a Cultus car. As the country is facing economic crisis, there is no justification for such luxuries, they added.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2024