Islamabad / Lahore / Karachi:
A national traders’ strike has led to partial and complete general market closures across Pakistan on Saturday, Islamabad not affected while businesses continued to operate in the Federal capital, Express News reported.
The strike, called to protest against the extended powers granted to the Federal Board of Return (FBR), divided merchants into opposing camps. The main business centers in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Quetta, Peshawar and several small cities have observed closings.
In Karachi, markets such as Jodia Bazar, electronic and mobile markets, wholesale markets of fruits and vegetables and other business centers have remained closed. The All Pakistan Restaurants Association and the local transport unions in Karachi also supported the strike.
The president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Bilwani, reaffirmed support for the strike, declaring that no written insurance had been received from the government. He warned that the demonstrations degenerate if the requests were not satisfied during the upcoming talks.
In Lahore, all large commercial areas, including Shah Alam Market, Akbari Mandi, Hall Road, Mall Road, Anarkali and others, have remained closed, with the support of all factions of the city’s merchants. The Lahore Chamber of Commerce has also approved the event.
The chief of traders Haji Maqsood Butt declared the strike a success and warned that if the FBR continued to “harass” the traders or to exercise an “unjustified authority”, other measures would be taken. “We are united and rejecting forced compliance,” he said.
In Hyderabad, several markets, including Anaj Mandi, Resham Bazaar and Gul Center, were entirely closed, while others remained partially open.
The markets also remained closed in Peshawar, Quetta and in other urban centers. Merchants require a recolling of the application powers of the newly granted FBR law and an official and written guarantee of political revisions.
