KARACHI: Traders in the city have issued a stern warning to K-Electric (KE) against recovering its outstanding dues of Rs68 billion from compliant bill-paying citizens and businesses, threatening widespread protests if such an attempt is made.
(more…)Tag: traders
-
PBF Calls on Traders to Boost Economy with Tax Compliance
Karachi – The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has called on traders and shopkeepers across the country to fulfill their tax obligations, emphasizing the importance of increased tax collection for long-term economic stability.
(more…) -
FBR Mandates Deemed Income Tax for Traders in Simple Return
Karachi, August 28, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday introduced a simplified return form for traders, making the declaration of deemed income mandatory under the new guidelines.
(more…) -
Traders Paralyze Pakistan in Tax, Power Bill Uproar
Karachi, August 28, 2024 – A nationwide strike led by traders has brought Pakistan to a standstill, protesting against the government’s recent tax reforms and soaring electricity bills.
(more…) -
FBR to Amend SRO 1064: A Win for Traders
MULTAN: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will revise SRO 1064 of the Tajir Dost Scheme, considering the demands and concerns of traders, according to Naeem Mir, Chief Coordinator of the scheme.
(more…) -
FBR Invites Traders for Negotiations Ahead of Shutter Down
Islamabad, August 25, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reached out to traders for negotiations concerning a controversial tax scheme ahead of a shutter-down strike planned for August 28, 2024. This move comes as the traders’ community in Karachi and other parts of the country announced their decision to close shops and businesses in protest against what they describe as unfair taxation and inflated utility bills.
(more…) -
Karachi Traders Firm on August 28 Shutter Down
Karachi, August 25, 2024 – In a heated press conference held on Sunday, prominent traders associations from Karachi announced their firm stance to proceed with a shutter-down strike on August 28, 2024.
(more…) -
Small Traders Launch Protest Against Advance Income Tax
Karachi, August 12, 2024 – In a bold move signaling rising discontent among Karachi’s small business community, traders have announced a major protest against the imposition of advance income tax on retail operations.
(more…) -
Karachi Traders Stage Shutdown Protest Against Soaring Electricity Bills and Inflation
Karachi, September 1, 2023 – Traders in Karachi observed a citywide shutdown on Friday in a collective protest against inflated electricity bills and the relentless rise in inflation. The protest action resulted in the closure of wholesale and major markets across the city.
(more…) -
Traders urged to show unity for resolution of issues
KARACHI: Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) & Former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Zubair Motiwala has urged all shopkeepers and small traders to exhibit complete unity and solidarity under KCCI’s umbrella so that one strong voice could be raised to compel the federal and provincial governments to pay attention to Karachi and immediately resolve all the issues being suffered by Karachiites.
“The Karachi Chamber, being the premier Chamber and a true representative of the entire business community, is not just for resolving problems of businessmen and industrialists but small traders and shopkeepers are also equally important and dear to us hence, BMG Leadership and KCCI Office Bearers are always available to help out small traders and shopkeepers who are an integral part of this Chamber”, he added while speaking at the first meeting of Special Committee for Small Traders which was also attended by Vice Chairman BMG Jawed Bilwani, President KCCI Muhammad Idrees, Senior Vice President Abdul Rehman Naqi, Chairman of KCCI’s Special Committee for Small Traders Majeed Memon, Former Presidents KCCI Majyd Aziz & Younus Muhammad Bashir, Former Senior Vice President Talat Mehmood, KCCI Managing Committee Members and a large number of shopkeepers and representatives of commercial markets’ associations.
Commenting on the hardships being suffered by shopkeepers due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns, Chairman BMG urged the Federal and Provincial Governments to provide a helping hand to the perturbed small traders and shopkeepers who were still distressed and have not come out of crises because of the severe losses suffered during lockdowns. He said that the Karachi Chamber was struggling really hard to some how convince the government to extend financial support to shopkeepers as compensation for the losses suffered by them during COVID-19 pandemic.
Responding to concerns expressed by meeting participants over poor attitude of police officers towards shopkeepers, Zubair Motiwala assured that the Karachi Chamber was well aware of this particular issue hence it has already been discussed with Karachi Police Chief Imran Yaqub Minhas who assured to deal with it at the earliest so that the small traders and shopkeepers could carry out their business activities without any kind of fear from police.
He also promised to invite Additional IG for a meeting again at KCCI in which small traders and shopkeepers will also be invited so that they could directly discuss issues pertaining to parking, police patrolling, encroachment, thefts, robberies, mobile snatching and other heinous crimes taking place in their areas. “We will keep striving and continue to raise a very strong voice until all the issues are resolved exactly as per aspiration of small traders.
Commenting on problems being faced by small traders and shopkeepers due to complete closure of businesses on Sunday which has been earmarked as Safe Day, Chairman BMG informed that this issue has been taken up with Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah who has assured that if the NCOC declares Sunday as working day for shopkeepers, he would immediately lift the restriction of carrying out business activities on Sundays. “Chief Minister will also be visiting KCCI next week where we will again highlight this issue so that it could be taken into consideration”, he added.
He further informed that KCCI has also taken up the issue of forced registration with Chairman Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) Khalid Mehmood who was advised to hold consultation with relevant markets’ associations instead of forcing the shopkeepers to get registered. “Any misconduct or demand for bribe by SRB official may please be reported to KCCI and we will take up this matter with SRB to ensure that no injustice was being done to anyone”, he added.
Keeping in view the hardships being faced by Shopkeepers in obtaining trade license, Zubair Motiwala assured to develop some kind of system within KCCI so that the shopkeepers could get the trade license without any demand for bribe by just paying the fee. “We will also take up the possession issue being suffered by displaced shopkeepers of the encroachment drive who although have been allotted shops at alternate locations but the possession has not been given so far”, he added.