With limited space for subsidies and heavy reliance on indirect taxation, future fiscal measures could put upward pressure on prices, particularly affecting urban consumers. Photo (file)
RAWALPINDI:
Representatives of 15 major essential commodity and food trade bodies – including vegetable, fruit, meat, milk, grocery, chicken, egg, baker, hotel and tandoor unions – have announced a major protest demonstration at Liaquat Bagh Chowk on Tuesday at 3 pm (tomorrow).
Addressing a joint press conference at the Rawalpindi Press Club, they rejected what they termed excessive taxation, heavy fines, arrests, closures of shops and the ‘three days in jail, three days of closure of shops’ policy during Ramazan.
In the second phase, they announced complete stoppage of sale of milk, yogurt, meat, chicken, eggs, groceries, bakery items, roti, flour and sugar across the district.
They also threatened to close 300,000 shops across the city and hand over their keys to the deputy commissioner in protest.
The announcement was made by President of Central Anjuman Tajran Shahid Ghafoor Paracha, President of Hotels, Restaurants and Bakeries Association Chaudhry Farooq, President of Groceries Union Saleem Pervez Butt, President of Nanbai Association Shafiq Qureshi, President of Furniture Association Sardar Saqib, President of Fresh Milk Association Malik Waqar, President of Poultry Zaheer Abbas Abbasi, Meat Association president Rahat Javed and presidents of traders’ unions of 50 markets.
They said most of the merchant leaders belong to the Pakistan Muslim League-N and the city’s National Assembly members have failed to resolve their issues.
They alleged that the district administration, Punjab Revenue Authority, Food Department, para forces, police, magistrates and Food Authority had made their lives miserable.
They said 17 types of taxes had been imposed. The Punjab Revenue Authority, they said, requires traders to collect 16 percent tax from consumers on every sale and submit it. “Why should we perform this duty? » they asked.
They alleged that the deputy commissioner publishes “fictitious price lists” and now claims traders face three days in jail and three days of store closures if they sell at higher prices.
“Are we selling narcotics? they questioned, adding that they cannot buy an item for Rs 100 and sell it for Rs 80. They demanded that if the administration wants to control prices, it should supply the goods itself.
They said different departments were carrying out raids one after another, threatening arrests and imprisonment.
They announced that protests would take place in every major restaurant in Rawalpindi. They also opposed a new health tax.
