Wholesale markets shut nationwide in protest against withholding tax

KARACHI: Several wholesale markets were shut down in protest by the wholesale grocers against the withholding taxes introduced in the budget on the call of Wholesaler and Grossers Association.

The protest, which began on Wednesday, has also impacted markets across Punjab, particularly in Faisalabad, as well as in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur in Sindh.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, grocers have shut wholesale markets in Peshawar, Mardan, and Kohat.

Rauf Ibrahim, Chairman of the Wholesale Grocers Association, has announced that the strike will continue until August 2.

If the demands are not addressed, a new course of action will be revealed on August 6. Ibrahim warned that the protest will intensify until the withholding taxes are repealed.

Earlier, the traders’ community threatened to observe a country-wide shutdown if the government does not withdraw the recently issued Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) under the Tajir-Dost Scheme.

President All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Ajmal Baloch in a statement rejected the SRO issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

He said that if the SRO is not withdrawn, the traders will be forced to announce a nationwide shutdown.

FBR chairman seeks early retirement over differences with PM office

Ajmal Baloch demanded from the FBR to immediately withdraw the SRO or else they would announce the strike.

Ajmal Baloch said that the SRO should be issued in accordance with the agreed-upon terms between the government and the traders.

The All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran president said that out that during the negotiations, the FBR was informed that the scheme has failed, and both filers and non-filers are already paying advance income tax through electricity bills.

Web Desk