Nationwide Strike Announced by Goods Transporters Following Karachi Chamber’s Protest

Karachi: All Goods Transport Associations across the country have announced a nationwide wheel-jam strike on July 19 in solidarity with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Karachi Goods Carrier Association’s president, Malik Sher Khan, stated that the transport community stands with the traders and will fully support the protest. He emphasized that on July 19, no supply vehicles will operate anywhere in the country. He also mentioned that if the traders decide to extend the strike, the transporters will be ready to continue the protest.
During a press conference at Karachi Chamber, Malik Sher Khan reiterated that all transporters would join the KCCI’s strike and that the nationwide goods transport would be halted until the Karachi Chamber’s demands are met.
The goods transport community has expressed its full support for the Karachi Chamber’s stance, especially regarding the Sales Tax Act clauses 37 A and B included in the Finance Bill. These clauses are considered by the transporters as unfair and detrimental to their business interests.
Support from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Business Community
Meanwhile, the President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Fazal Muqeem Khan, also announced his support for the protest on July 19. He condemned the federal government’s new tax laws and termed them as unjust. Khan emphasized that the business community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will fully participate in the strike.
Khan also criticized the new tax legislation, claiming that it was oppressive and unethical. He pointed out that the federal government had ignored the suggestions of the business community during the drafting of the Finance Act. The current budget, he added, was discriminatory against traders and industries.
According to Khan, decisions affecting industries and businesses are being made behind closed doors, with tax authorities granted excessive powers. This could lead to arbitrary actions against traders. The newly developed software for tax filing is also being forcibly imposed on the business community.
Fazal Muqeem Khan further highlighted that the new law allows for the cancellation of a business’s registration over a minor mistake, and traders could even be arrested for small errors. He noted that only 40% of the businesses are registered as taxpayers, while 60% remain non-filers, and there are no incentives for the tax-paying community. He warned that the government’s harsh stance could drive investors out of the country.