RAWALPINDI, Oct 30: The traders have decided not to pay various taxes in protest against the government’s failure to address their concerns, the president of Markazi Anjuman-i- Tajran, Hanif Abbasi, said here on Wednesday.

Talking to this reporter, he said the traders had unanimously decided not to pay property, sales and board taxes as the government did not resolve their grievances regarding taxes. He said none of their comrades would cooperate with the tax officials.

Mr Abbasi said they had also approached the traders’ association of the federal capital to seek their support.

“Our initial contact with them has been positive and they are likely to support us,” he added.

Speaking about the concerns of the traders, he said there was not any uniform policy for levying of tax. He said some were being taxed at the rate of three per cent, while others were being charged at the rate of 18 per cent.

Besides, he said, there were many traders who were not registered with the Sales Tax office and were enjoying a free- ride.

He said the traders had suggested to the sales tax authorities to charge at a uniform rate of 0.75 per cent of the turnover. But, they are not ready to listen to us, he added.

Regarding the traders’ concerns over the property tax issue, Mr Abbasi said the notices recently received by their colleagues showed an unprecedented enhancement in the tariff, which needed to be rationalized.

He said a person previously paying Rs3,300 as property tax was now being asked to pay Rs16,000.

The other cause of concern to the traders, he said, was the board tax levied by the local Tehsil Municipal Administration. He said it was quite understandable to get taxes from big multinationals and other largescale companies for the advertisement hoarding put up by them throughout the city. But, the TMA was asking the small traders to even pay for the small boards put outside the shops, he added.

The Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran chief said no such tax was charged by the cantonment board.

He clarified that the traders were not refusing to pay the taxes, but wanted the government to accommodate their concerns.

He warned that the traders might move the courts to seek redressal if the government refused to satisfy their concerns.

To a question regarding their future course of action, he said: “We have decided to seek the support of political parties on this issue. We would first begin with Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal.”

He said the traders might eventually decide to launch agitation, but it depended on the government’s attitude.