Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajran Pakistan (MTTP), a trade body comprising of various associations, on Friday announced to observe a countrywide token commercial strike on Saturday (today) to protest against non-acceptance of its charter of demand by the federal government. As many as 400 markets across the city will shut their businesses as the talks with the Sindh governor Imran Ismail remained inconclusive.
MTTP president Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry said they would observe complete shutter down strike in all major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gilgit-Baltistan, etc. They said they have to protest after the PTI-led government has refused to accept traders' 32-point charter of demand. He said that representatives from business community convened a series of meetings with the government officials and also conveyed their grievances to Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, they failed to convince the government for reversal of the budgetary measures that forced them to take hard stance over the issue.
"Traders from Karachi to Peshawar have supported our call for strike because uncalled for budgetary measures and hike in gas and electricity tariffs are hitting them hard," Kashif Chaudhry said. He said they would be observing a daylong shutter down across the country on Saturday and also would continue protesting till acceptance of demands.
Reports had it some associations had dissociated themselves from the strike call; however, Chaudhry said efforts of the government to 'divide trade community' would be foiled. The government was given 32-point charter of demand which was not given due consideration despite passage of July 7 deadline. President of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) Atiq Mir said that all markets across the city would remain closed.
He asked traders to shut their businesses since the budget failed to address issues of trade community. He suggested traders should observe strike not only for protection of their own businesses, but also to save the national economy. Imposition of value added tax is unjust. CNIC-based invoicing system made it impossible for the community to run their businesses, he said.
Traders blame that the budget was made by bureaucracy on the guidelines of international Monetary Fund (IMF). They said hike in value of US dollar against Pakistan rupee already made inflation fly high while imposition of new taxes in the budget also created concerns in the business community.
Sindh Sarrafa Jewelers Association (SSJA) also supported the strike call. Shops located in Kharadar, Liaquatabad, Tariq Road and Hyderi market will remain closed. Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail appealed to traders to call-off strike and continue their business activities. He said the country was facing problems and traders should understand difficulties faced by the government. Instead of strike, the governor asked, they should prefer reconciliation with the government so that their resentment could be addressed. Earlier, Ismail met representatives of All Karachi Tajir Action Committee (AKTAC), a body of the city's traders and tried to convince them to call off their strike call, but failed to do so.