RAWALPINDI: Traders of the Rawalpindi city and cantonment will observe a shutter-down strike on Wednesday, following the call of the All Pakistan Traders Association to protest against hefty taxes, Tajir Dost Scheme and high electricity bills.

Rawalpindi Traders Association President Sharjeel Mir announced that all the markets in Raja Bazaar, Commercial Market and other areas would remain closed on Wednesday. In this regard, all the market unions have been informed.

Mr Mir highlighted that the financial crises had made lives of traders difficult. He said the traders in Raja Bazaar and adjoining main markets were troubled with the Tajir Dost Scheme, electricity bills and taxes on businesses.

He expressed concerns over rising electricity costs and additional taxes reducing the purchasing power of people, resultantly affecting the businesses of traders. Moreover, these issues were making it difficult to manage the daily expenditure of the shops and pay the wages of the workers.

“We have asked all the traders to remain peaceful. We will show the government that traders can protest in a peaceful manner. We will not create hurdles on the roads like political parties but will raise the voice of the people peacefully,” he said.

Cantonment Traders Association General Secretary Zafar Qadri said that all markets in Saddar and other areas of the cantonment would remain closed on Wednesday. He said that the association issued directions to the members to remain peaceful.

He added that the traders are already facing additional taxes by the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board which were imposed as sewerage tax on all the shops in Saddar and other areas. “Professional tax, sewerage tax, sanitation tax and others are being paid to civic body, but the government has introduced even more taxes on traders,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Chemist and Druggist Association (PCDA) have also announced their full support to the shutterdown strike. However, they will not close the chemist shops located in front of hospitals for the sake of patients but would stage protests in all markets from 2pm to 3pm.

“We will install black flags in the shops and all workers and owners will wear black bands on the arms,” said PCDA Punjab Chapter chief Zahid Bakhtawari.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2024