KARACHI: Jewellers observed a partial shutdown in the city and across the country on Tuesday to protest against frequent raids by officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) over taxation issues.

All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) has also not issued the daily gold rates on Tuesday because trading activities were suspended.

APSGJA President Qasim Shikarpuri told a press conference at Liberty Chowk on Tariq Road on Tuesday that the FBR is pressurising mainly bullion traders to pay 500-600 per cent more in taxes, which is highly unjustified, as traders have already been paying their taxes regularly.

When asked whether a number of jewellery shops in various markets of the city were open despite the strike call, he claimed that the entire Karachi was shut, along with a number of jewellery shops in Hyderabad, Nawab Shah and Peshawar.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026