Karachi, July 14, 2025 – The SITE Association of Industry, Karachi, has thrown its weight behind the Karachi Chamber of Commerce’s call for a nationwide strike on July 19, in protest against controversial tax laws introduced through Sections 37A and 37B of the Finance Act, 2025.
The Association strongly condemned these provisions, which it says grant unjustified powers to FBR officials, threatening the very existence of Pakistan’s industrial base.
SITE Association President Ahmed Azeem Alvi voiced the concerns of Karachi’s largest industrial zone, SITE, stating that these laws have sparked widespread outrage among the business community. “We cannot allow such oppressive legislation to exist in a civil society. Granting tax officials the authority to arrest and lodge FIRs against honest taxpayers without proper inquiry is simply unacceptable,” said Alvi.
He warned that if the government does not immediately withdraw these harsh sections, industries across the SITE area will shut down operations on July 19, as a mark of protest. “A complete closure of industries in SITE will halt production, delay exports, and force mass layoffs—an economic crisis for which the government alone will be responsible,” he declared.
The SITE Association emphasized that, around the world, governments work to empower industries through tax incentives and a business-friendly climate. “Why is Pakistan moving in the opposite direction?” Alvi questioned. “Does the government not see that when industries flourish, so does the economy—and when they collapse, tax revenue disappears?”
Alvi revealed that he met with Javed Bilwani, President of the Karachi Chamber, to discuss the growing concerns of SITE industrialists. “The SITE Association fully supports the Chamber’s stance,” he confirmed. “The entire business ecosystem is under pressure, not only due to Sections 37A and 37B but also because of sudden implementation of systems like e-filing and e-Bilty without consultation.”
He further questioned how many awareness sessions the FBR had conducted with the SITE community before implementing such reforms. “These laws appear more like tools of harassment than policy,” he said, warning they will only benefit a few FBR officers while decimating Pakistan’s SME sector.
Calling on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Alvi urged repeal of these sections and accountability for those behind them. “As a businessman himself, the Prime Minister must include SITE Association and all chambers in future legislative discussions to avoid creating further unrest in the business community.”