Islamabad/Lahore/Karachi:
A nationwide dealer’s strike led to widespread partial and complete market endings in Pakistan on Saturday, where Islamabad was not affected when companies continued to operate in the federal capital, Express News reported.
The strike, called for protest against extended powers awarded to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), divided dealers into conflicting camps. Large business centers in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Quetta, Peshawar and several smaller cities observed shutdowns.
In Karachi, markets such as Jodia Bazar, electronics and mobile markets, fruits and vegetable markets and other business nodes remained closed. All Pakistan Restaurants Association and local transport associations in Karachi also supported the strike.
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Jawed Bilwani confirmed support for the strike and said no written insurance policies had been received from the government. He warned that protests would escalate if no requirements were met in the upcoming conversations.
In Lahore, all major commercial areas, including Shah Alam Market, Akbari Mandi, Hall Road, Mall Road, Anarkali and others, remained closed with the support of all factions in the city’s dealers’ unions. Lahore Chamber of Commerce also approved the protest.
Dealer’s leader Haji Maqsood Butt declared the strike as a success and warned that if the FBR continued to “harass” traders or exercise “unjustified authority, further action would be taken.” We are united and we reject forced observance, “he said.
In Hyderabad, several markets, including Anaj Mandi, Resham Bazaar and Yellow Center, were completely closed, while others remained partially open.
Markets also remained closed in Peshawar, Quetta and other city centers. The traders require a return of newly assigned FBR -enforcement powers and a formal, written guarantee of political audits.
