The shutter down strike of Sizing Industry has been entered in third day, here on Tuesday, while Industrialists, Yarn Dealers, Cloth Merchants, Traders and Textile workers took out protest procession against the imposition of 17.5 percent Sales Tax and Flood Tax on the Income Tax payers and staged demonstration at Chowk Clock Tower.
The demonstrations carrying placards & banners and chanting anti public heavy taxes slogans against the government and strongly demanded that all three ordinances should be withdrawn immediately for revival of the sick textile industry.
Furthermore, subdued business was seen in the Yarn and Cloth Markets on Tuesday, as leading buyers were conspicuous by their absence. Due to closures of the Sizing Industry, the supply of sized yarn had been totally stopped to the Powerlooms Industry, resultantly; most of the looms are functioning in single shift.
Addressing the protest meeting, the Shakeel Ahmad Ansari, Chairman, Rana Talib Hussain, Vice Chairman, All Pakistan Sizing Industries Association, Mian Ajmal, Ashfaq Ahmad Batt, Malik Haleem Aslam Malik and others strongly demanded that three SROs should be withdrawn immediately, which are creating harassment in the Textile and Trade Sectors.
In a joint meeting of Textile Associations at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it was unanimously decided that if disputes not settle within a week, all Associations and Chambers would launch protestation and observed complete shutter down in industrial city.
Addressing the meeting, Ch. Salamat Ali, Chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone said that Federal Government has imposed several taxes on various segments of Textile sector including sales tax on whole textile business chain, which affect the Ginners, Spinners, Weavers, Sizing, Hosiery manufacturers and exporters. He demanded of the government for immediate withdrawal of SRO 231(I) 2011 and restore status quo of the original SRO 509(I) /2007 of June 9, 2007 allowing zero-rated status to five export oriented sectors.