With limited space for subsidies and a heavy reliance on indirect taxation, future budgetary measures could exert upward pressure on prices, particularly affecting urban consumers. Photo (file)
RAWALPINDI:
Representatives of 15 major essential commodities and food trade bodies — including vegetable, fruit, meat, milk, grocery, chicken, eggs, bakers, hotels and tandoor unions — announced a major protest demonstration at Liaquat Bagh Chowk at 3pm on Tuesday (tomorrow).
Addressing a joint press conference at Rawalpindi Press Club, they rejected what they termed excessive taxation, heavy fines, arrests, shop sealing, and the “three days jail, three days shop closure” policy during Ramazan.
In the second phase, they announced a complete halt to sale of milk, yogurt, meat, chicken, eggs, grocery items, bakery items, roti, flour and sugar across the district.
They also threatened to shut down 300,000 shops citywide and hand over their keys to the Deputy Commissioner as a mark of protest.
The announcement was made by Central Anjuman Tajran President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha, Hotels, Restaurants and Bakers Association President Chaudhry Farooq, Grocery Union President Saleem Pervez Butt, Nanbai Association President Shafiq Qureshi, Furniture Association President Sardar Saqib, Fresh Milk Association President Malik Waqar, Poultry President Zaheer Abbas Abbasi, Meat Association President Rahat Javed and presidents of traders’ unions from 50 markets.
They stated that most trader leaders belong to the Pakistan Muslim League-N and that members of the National Assembly from the city have failed to resolve their issues.
They alleged that the district administration, Punjab Revenue Authority, Food Department, para force, police, magistrates and Food Authority had made their lives miserable.
They said 17 types of taxes had been imposed. The Punjab Revenue Authority, they said, demands that traders collect 16 per cent tax from consumers on every sale and submit it. “Why should we perform this duty?” they asked.
They alleged that the deputy commissioner issues “fictitious rate lists” and now says that shopkeepers will face three days in jail and three days of shop sealing for selling at higher prices.
“Are we selling narcotics?” they questioned, adding that they cannot buy an item for Rs100 and sell it for Rs80. They demanded that if the administration wants controlled prices, it should provide goods itself.
They said different departments conduct raids one after another, threatening arrests and imprisonment.
They announced that protests would be held at every major chowk of Rawalpindi. They also opposed a newly imposed sanitation tax.
