RAWALPINDI: On the call of All Pakistan Traders Association, all groups of traders associations in the garrison city will join hands for a shutdown of the city and cantonment areas on Wednesday (tomorrow).

President Rawalpindi Restaurants, Caterers, Sweets and Bakers Association Mohammad Farooq Chaudhry has also announced support for the nationwide trade strike on August 28.

Mr Chaudhry demanded that the government should review the tax policy and consultations with businessmen should be made mandatory while making the tax policy.

“We have reduced our expenses, is the government ready to reduce its expenses,” he said while explaining his association’s point of view on the strike.

Mr Chaudhry said the Punjab government was charging them Rs2.24 sales tax on roti worth Rs14. Despite this, fines ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000 were being imposed on them. All kinds of additional taxes were also being imposed on the traders associated with the food business.

Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha said that traders were facing financial crises and electricity bills made their lives miserable.

Another trader association group, the Traders Association, led by President Sharjeel Mir said that the purchasing power of the people was reducing with each passing day and affected the business activities. He said that traders demanded conducive environment for the people and reduce the taxes on people.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2024