BATTAGRAM: Like other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the associations of traders in Battagram have decided to observe complete shutter down strike today (Wednesday) against imposition of new taxes by government.

The decision was made in a meeting of traders’ organisations here on Tuesday. All the grocery shops, meat shops, vegetable and fruit markets and other outlets would remain closed. However, some hotels and medical stores will remain open to facilitate tourists and patients.

The district president of traders’ union, Abdul Ghaffar Deshani, told Dawn that the shutter down strike was meant to oppose the government’s new tax policies and protest inflation in the country.

He said that government failed to give relief to business community in general and small traders in particular. Criticising the government policies, he said that every morning they learnt about imposition of new taxes. He said their businesses were badly affected after formation of the incumbent government.

Shah Hussain Khan, another leader of traders, said that earlier Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that he would alleviate poverty, but he introduced anti-poor policies.

He said that government should immediately withdraw new taxes otherwise traders would shut down their businesses.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2024