Traders across major cities of Pakistan observed a shutter-down strike on Wednesday against the government’s much-touted tax reforms, including the Tajir Dost Scheme.

In March, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introduced the ‘Tajir Dost Scheme’ to bring traders and wholesalers into the formal tax structure as required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The move had led to concerns and reservations among the traders.

Earlier this month, the traders’ community, including Markazi Tanzeem-i-Tajran Pakistan and All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajran, announced a nationwide strike against the Tajir Dost Scheme as well as heavy taxation and inflated electricity bills.

Trader’s bodies have decried the tax challans — to the tune of Rs60,000 — issued to small businesses and retailers, saying those registered under the scheme were promised they would not have to pay more than Rs1,200 in taxes.

The expansion of the country’s tax base will now pose a significant challenge for the PML-N and its coalition partner, the PPP, as the protesting traders have political affiliations with these parties.

Nevertheless, opposition parties — Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), and the Awami National Party — have declared their support for the agitating traders.

Shutters in various parts of the country — including the metropolitan cities of Karachi and Lahore — remained closed as the call for strike from traders’ associations received an overwhelming response from the community.

Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), had urged all its members to fully support Wednesday’s countrywide strike by closing their businesses.

Muhammad Kamran Arbi, president of the Site Association of Industry, has extended firm support to the traders’ strike. The Korangi Association of Trade and Industry and the Central Association of Tajran Pakistan have also announced their support.

The Pakistan Oil Tankers’ Association, in its statement issued on Tuesday, said it “fully supported” the call for a strike by the trader’s community and the JI.

The oil tankers’ body asserted the strike was the “voice of the country’s poor, helpless and destitute public against the heavy taxes and atrocious electricity bills”.

The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) also endorsed the call for a strike, the chief of its Karachi chapter, Mufti Qasim Fakhri, said in a statement.

Criticising the government for “enjoying privileges amid sky-high inflation”, Fakhri termed the imposition of taxes a “part of a foreign conspiracy”.

“Where are those who made promises to the public while seeking their votes?” the TLP leader asked.

Hakeem Shah, chairman of the All Karachi Traders Alliance, said in a statement that the shutter-down strike was being observed “all across from Karachi to Khyber”.

Shah said the traders’ community could “no longer bear the burden of the rulers’ pleasures”. “The country is on the brink of disaster due to the rulers’ wrong policies,” he asserted.

“If the Tajir Dost Scheme is not withdrawn, we will go ahead with a........

© Dawn Business