Fate of Karachi strike uncertain as traders divided

[Kabira]

Saturday was supposed to be marked by a massive shutter down strike across the country but factions within the traders’ community have split, leaving the fate of the protest uncertain.

In Karachi, one group has said it will proceed with the strike and shut down its businesses but another says it won’t be participating at all and will keep its shops and businesses open.

The Tajir Action Committee is against the protest and will be proceeding as usual while the Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran has announced that it will shut down its businesses. The All City Tajir Ittehad disassociated itself from the protest earlier.


The traders say they want the government to remove the new condition that traders must present their CNICs for purchases over Rs50,000. The protesting traders want to keep the government deadlock going because they want to pressure the government into accepting their demands.

Related: FBR chairman says no deadlock, but traders still plan strike

Kashif Chaudhry, president of the Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, said that their main issue is the CNIC condition.

But during a press conference on Friday, FBR Chairperson Shabbar Zaidi said the CNIC condition is part of a larger drive against tax evasion because the government is running a massive budget deficit (more than Rs3000 billion) because of a low tax revenue.

There are about 381,000 trading units that fall under sales tax jurisdiction, but only 47,000 of them are registered. Worse still, of the registered trading businesses, only 17,000 pay sales tax to the government. The government wants to change that equation by bringing more traders under the tax net.

Zaidi said there is no deadlock with any group or association of traders or industrialists but there is resistance because people don’t want to come under the tax net. He, however, added they will consider suggestions from traders while finalizing the policy.

Governor Imran Ismail says most traders aren’t protesting. We will solve this issue through dialogue, he said, expressing his hope that the protesting traders take back their decision to go on strike.

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[Kabira]

Only stupids will close shops, to much competition lmao

 

[Sugarcane]

There are about 381,000 trading units that fall under sales tax jurisdiction, but only 47,000 of them are registered. Worse still, of the registered trading businesses, only 17,000 pay sales tax to the government. The government wants to change that equation by bringing more traders under the tax net.

This thing the chut!yas must understand who are against any initiative of bringing more people to tax net and claims that public is paying indirect taxes. Yes the idiots are paying indirect taxes, but to businessmen who gulp major chunk by throwing some bones to mofos in fbr. That's why people must start paying more direct taxes and ask government to reduce indirect taxes.

 

[Mr ambassador]

Freeze their bank accounts ,who don't cooperate with government .

let them how long they can resist

 

[Lincoln]

Close them down. They buy and sell domestically so what good are they if they don't pay taxes, there is no income from them.

The only people benefiting would be their competitors, and the only ones hurt will be the shop owners themselves.

 

[B.K.N]

Only stupids will close shops, to much competition lmao

And those who close should never be allowed to open their shops or businesses again

 

[shah_123]

Wholesale markets of Karachi and Lahore are closed, it's a successful strike .--- Some of the response in this thread suggests that PTi isn't liking the fact the strike is successful.
Mr. Imran Khan must fire his advisers (but the poor soul can't) and frame made in Pakistan policies.

 

[Talha Asif]

Mostly Markets of twin cities also open

 

[Verve]

Traders will have to get used to lower margins and pay taxes. That's how it is everywhere in the world, unless you have specialist goods with exclusive sale rights.

Otherwise shut down or strike as long as you want and those who do not strike will take your market share!

 

[The Accountant]

What the hell are you talking about? So if a theif is saying that let me continue the theft otherwise I will close my business than should we get black mailed ? Its my pocket who is going to get empty if I dont support government in drive against this tax theft

Wholesale markets of Karachi and Lahore are closed, it's a successful strike .--- Some of the response in this thread suggests that PTi isn't liking the fact the strike is successful.
Mr. Imran Khan must fire his advisers (but the poor soul can't) and frame made in Pakistan policies.

 

[WarKa DaNG]

Didn't the PM fired the Railway Minister for the train incidents, or maybe giving advices in opposition is easier than doing it by yourself

 

[litman]

This thing the chut!yas must understand who are against any initiative of bringing more people to tax net and claims that public is paying indirect taxes. Yes the idiots are paying indirect taxes, but to businessmen who gulp major chunk by throwing some bones to mofos in fbr. That's why people must start paying more direct taxes and ask government to reduce indirect taxes.

you are right but it should have been a step wise process. what the government has done wrong here is that it has increased the cost of everything at once and increased the taxes as well. petrol, gas, dollar, electricity and taxes everything has gone up at the same time. wrong move by the government. there is news going on that honda will stop production on 2 days per week so as to slow down their production rate as people are not buying their cars because prices have shot up. business activity all over the country is going to slow down with stupid moves by the government. the rise in indirect taxes has already reduced the purchasing power of common man. IK is living in ideal world but the truth is far from reality.dollar price is going up on daily basis.

IK is having the first taste of his stupid policies. now as he is a stubborn person he is not going to back down. economy will further go down and dollar will go up and the vicious circle will make pak next venezuela.

 

[koolio]

All the businesses will have to pay taxes one way or another, so its ok for business to charge sales tax to the customer but will not pass it on to the government, no wonder Pakistan is in such a mess.

 

[Sugarcane]

you are right but it should have been a step wise process. what the government has done wrong here is that it has increased the cost of everything at once and increased the taxes as well. petrol, gas, dollar, electricity and taxes everything has gone up at the same time. wrong move by the government. there is news going on that honda will stop production on 2 days per week so as to slow down their production rate as people are not buying their cars because prices have shot up. business activity all over the country is going to slow down with stupid moves by the government. the rise in indirect taxes has already reduced the purchasing power of common man. IK is living in ideal world but the truth is far from reality.dollar price is going up on daily basis.

IK is having the first taste of his stupid policies. now as he is a stubborn person he is not going to back down. economy will further go down and dollar will go up and the vicious circle will make pak next venezuela.

You mean the accepting the demand of Traders on strike i.e. removing condition of reporting CNIC of people buying 50K or above products will magically solve all the issues you mentioned?

 

[Zibago]

Only stupids will close shops, to much competition lmao

In Islamabad small markets and shops are open while bigger one,s are closed