RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Traders marked the shutter-down strike for second day in the city, seeking government’s move to rationalize the taxation system keeping in view the existing economic condition.

Talking to Business Recorder, Chairman All Karachi Wholesalers Grocers, Anis Majeed said that “we are ready to pay taxes, willing to help the country underpin its weakening economy but just wanting simplified taxation procedures”. Some issues were still left to be dealt with gradually with the FBR, he added.

He said the city’s major markets remained closed in protest against the government’s taxation policies, however, businesses would resume on Thursday in full swing. Grain supplies also came to a halt for two back to back days, as the country’s largest commodities business also observed shutter-down strike with other traders.

“Businessmen community really intends to pay taxes but procedures should be rationalized and the government should exempt us from FBR claws,” he said, adding the government should place a fixed tax on traders with a determined rate. “We should not be let into the FBR trap,” Anis Majeed said, adding traders would solve their other matters with the government gradually.

“There is no opposition to the tax documentation of traders,” he said. However, he asked the government to ‘involve’ all trade associations while evolving tax policies. He also demanded of the government to start registering the traders into its tax net without further delays. “It is not a big issue,” he said.

Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, Atiq Mir said the city’s major markets remained also closed in protest for the second day. He hoped the government’s concerned authorities would ponder on the traders clamour over high taxations and revisit their policies to rationalize the entire system.

Markets in the Old City, on MA Jinnah, Gul Plaza, Saddar, Iron Sheet Market, Jama Cloth Market, Timber Market, and Mobile Market remained closed on second day of the strike. “There is a need to increase the small traders especially the retailers’ confidence into the government’s taxation system,” he added.