Wholesalers Demand Tax Relief, Announce Nationwide Protest

KARACHI: The Wholesaler and Grocers Association declared a three-day strike starting July 31 to protest the withholding tax imposed in the 2024-25 budget. This move comes as a response to what the association deems an ‘unjust’ tax. Grocery shops, grain markets, and wholesale markets will remain closed until August 2.

The association’s spokesperson stated that their protest will continue until the government abolishes the tax. Earlier, the traders’ community had threatened a country-wide shutdown if the government did not withdraw the recently issued Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) under the Tajir-Dost Scheme.

Ajmal Baloch, President of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran, has rejected the SRO issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). In his statement, Baloch emphasized that if the SRO is not withdrawn, traders will be forced to shut down operations nationwide. He called on the FBR to revoke the SRO immediately and issue a new one based on agreed-upon terms between the government and traders.

During negotiations, Baloch pointed out that the current scheme has failed, with both filers and non-filers already paying advance income tax through electricity bills. He urged the FBR to address these concerns to avoid the impending strike.

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