KARACHI, Sept 12: Shopkeepers of various markets observed black day after Juma prayers to protest against the universal income tax scheme.

According to a spokesman of Karachi Traders Action Committee (KTAC), shopkeepers of Boultan Market, Moutan Das, Juna Market, Kharadar, Bohri Bazar, Saddar and Burns Road wore black bands in their arm and hoisted black flags.

In Boultan Market, opposite to Memon Masjid, they held a protest demonstration against the scheme.

According to a press release of KTAC, chairman of the committee, Mehmood Hamid said the finance minister was trying to implement the agenda of the IMF. Traders had rejected the GST but the finance ministry was bent upon imposing the GST rules and regulations through the universal scheme.

He said traders would not file their returns in case the government does not withdraw the IT scheme. He urged the government to restore the self-assessment scheme.

Furthermore, All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders and Cottage Industry (APOSTCI), in a statement, urged the traders to resist the universal income tax scheme tooth and nail.