Having backing from trade groups and political parties, traders across observe a nationwide strike on Wednesday to express their opposition to the government’s tax plans.
The Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) are among the political groups supporting the traders.
Anjuman-e-Tajiran Karachi had declared a full shutdown of operations for today in anticipation of the nationwide strike.
The head of the Sindh branch of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran, Javed Shams, declared his support for the countrywide strike, saying, “The political leadership has failed.”
Shams also stated that all businesses, whether large and small, throughout Sindh will remain closed today. “[We] protest the hike in taxes and power bills.”
He continued by saying that the “Trader Friendly Scheme” is unacceptable in its current form and that the ruling class wants to deny the people and the business class the ability to survive.
The proposal for a strike has also been supported by the Karachi Electronics Dealers Association. All trade unions from Karachi to Khyber are taking part in the walkout, said Pakistan KEDA President Muhammad Rizwan.
“If the issues remain unresolved, the time frame of the strike may increase,” Rizwan warned.
Atiq Mir, president of the All Karachi Traders Union, referred to the strike as one of the people, not of businesspeople. “The common man has concerns about inflation.”
Following the Central Traders Association of Pakistan’s call for a nationwide strike, all business centers in Punjab, including Vehari, have closed. This includes all markets, including those on Club Road, Jinnah Road, Luddun Road, Rail Bazaar, Choori Bazar, and Multan Road.
