The traders’ community in Pakistan has announced a nationwide strike on August 28 to voice their opposition to Revenue’s (FBR) Tajir Dost scheme.
During a collaborative press conference involving various trade associations, the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran voiced a strong demand for the immediate withdrawal of the Tajir Dost scheme, which they label unacceptable. The scheme, designed to improve tax compliance, has been met with significant resistance from the business sector, who argue that it imposes undue burdens.
Additionally, the traders are pressing for significant policy reversals, including the recent hike in taxes on the export sector, which they argue could cripple Pakistan’s competitiveness in international markets. They are also challenging the increase in income tax slabs for salaried individuals and businessmen, which they claim exacerbates the financial strain on the middle class and the business community during an already difficult economic climate.
In an earlier move to escalate their protests, traders announced their intention to withhold payment of their electricity bills for August. This action is intended to pressure the government to reevaluate its agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which the traders believe are contributing to the escalating cost of doing business in Pakistan.
The FBR’s decision to expand the Tajir Dost scheme to 42 cities, extending beyond six major cities to include smaller municipalities such as Abbottabad, Attock, Bahawalnagar, and Bahawalpur, has further fueled the discontent. This expansion signifies a significant increase in the scheme’s reach and impact, prompting wider-scale protests from the business community, which view, which viewsoves as detrimental to their operations.
