FAISALABAD, July 24: Industrial workers, cotton yarn dealers and owners of sizing units staged a protest demonstration against taxation policies of the government here on Thursday.

They gathered at the local yarn market wearing black arm bands to express their resentment over the indifferent attitude of the government on the fourth day of the strike of sizing units.

They chanted slogans against the government and threatened that if their demands of withdrawing ‘ill-conceived’ taxation policies, especially Section 40-B of the Sales Tax Act, were not accepted, they would come on roads.

Representatives of the Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association, the All-Pakistan Cotton Powerlooms Association, the Small Powerlooms Units Association and the Anjuman Tajiran announced joining the strike of sizing units if the government failed to accept their demands.

All Pakistan Sizing Industries Association chairman Mirza Shafiq told the protesters that the Customs collector had approached sizing units owners for holding dialogues but they refused to accept his invitation. The association decided that talks would be held with Central Board of Revenue chairman or higher officials to resolve the issue, he added.

Meanwhile, over 400 sizing units all over the country, including 150 of Faisalabad, observed complete strike on the fourth consecutive day on Thursday. The strike has reportedly forced over 100 small powerloom units to close their business.