Islamabad, Pakistan's traders welcomed the new fiscal year on Monday with protests against rising taxes and electricity bills, as resentment against new tax measures in the budget was brewing across the cash-strapped country.
Parliament approved a heavily tax-laden budget for the year 24-25 on June 28, followed by its formal endorsement by the president on Sunday, allowing the new tax measures to take effect from July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
Weeks after cutting fuel prices ahead of the Eid ul Adha festival, Pakistan's cash-strapped government on Monday sharply increased its prices for the coming fortnights as the new fiscal year begins. According to a notification, fuel prices Petrol and High Speed Diesel (HSD) increased by Rs 7.45 and Rs 9.56 per litre, respectively, on the first day of a tax-laden Budget for 2024-25.
Dawn News reported that Islamabad traders, responding to a call from the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran, staged a huge protest at Aabpara Chowk, blocking the main road.
A heavy police presence was deployed to disperse the protesters as caravans of traders from across the city converged at Aabpara Chowk. Police personnel were present when convoys of traders led by leaders from several markets in Islamabad arrived to protest against the rises in government taxes and electricity price increases.
Shouting anti-government slogans, protesters carried banners and electricity bills. "This is purely a protest by traders; no political party can claim it," said Aabpara market general secretary Akhtar Abbasi.
"I am a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), but we have put aside politics for the public interest. We have raised our voices against the exorbitant increase in electricity bills for the sake of the poor," Abbasi added. Merchants chanted slogans rejecting high electricity prices. "Traders across the country are protesting against the sharp rise in electricity prices," said Ajmal Baloch, president of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran. "Soon, the rulers will have to be accountable to the people," he warned.
"The prime minister, who says our budget is prepared by the IMF, should resign immediately," Baloch said. "There are twelve-hour power cuts in the country. The same companies with which you make agreements are in charge of generating electricity," he added.
Baloch highlighted the various taxes on electricity bills: "There is a 21 percent sales tax on a bill of fourteen thousand rupees, followed by thirteen other types of taxes."He criticized political leaders for not fulfilling their election promises. . "Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal promised free electricity for up to 300 units during the elections," he said. "May God guide them as they fail to govern effectively," Baloch commented. Furthermore, he condemned the government for its mismanagement and corruption.
Baloch also highlighted the widespread nature of the protests: "Traders are protesting in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi, Balochistan and Sindh. There is no district or tehsil in Pakistan without protests right now."
In a warning to the government, he said: "If these electricity taxes are not withdrawn, we will go on a shutdown strike. If the government does not reverse the electricity price increase, we will decide on further action after consultations."Baloch criticized the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for labeling traders as thieves, emphasizing that 17,000 industrialists and traders pay taxes. He accused parliamentarians of misappropriating funds intended for infrastructure.
"These rulers are not just thieves; they are robbers," Baloch declared. "Prime Minister, listen carefully, his government is on shaky ground. Remove taxes on electricity, or the next protest will be a siege on the Prime Minister's House," he warned.
He noted that 1.5 million Pakistanis have left the country and criticized Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for ruining the real estate business with excessive taxes. Baloch concluded with cries of unity and action, urging people to wake up for the good of the country. Women also joined the protest against electricity price increases, and the demonstration ended peacefully as traders dispersed.
In Rawalpindi, symbolic shutdown strikes did not materialize in all markets due to factionalism within traders' organizations. However, traders took to the streets, chanting slogans against taxes on electricity bills and burning gas bills.
The protest on Bank Road saw the participation of traders from Kashmir Road, Haider Road and other markets. A faction of traders held a symbolic strike by closing businesses at 4 pm. In Peshawar, traders held a protest demonstration against tax impositions, increases in electricity prices and inflation.
Organized by Tanzeem Tajiran, the rally began at Milad Chowk and concluded at Chowk Yadgar, with participants demanding removal of newly imposed taxes and a reduction in electricity prices, according to the Dawn report.
Parliament approved a heavily tax-laden budget for the year 24-25 on June 28, followed by its formal endorsement by the president on Sunday, allowing the new tax measures to take effect from July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
Weeks after cutting fuel prices ahead of the Eid ul Adha festival, Pakistan's cash-strapped government on Monday sharply increased its prices for the coming fortnights as the new fiscal year begins. According to a notification, fuel prices Petrol and High Speed Diesel (HSD) increased by Rs 7.45 and Rs 9.56 per litre, respectively, on the first day of a tax-laden Budget for 2024-25.
Dawn News reported that Islamabad traders, responding to a call from the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran, staged a huge protest at Aabpara Chowk, blocking the main road.
A heavy police presence was deployed to disperse the protesters as caravans of traders from across the city converged at Aabpara Chowk. Police personnel were present when convoys of traders led by leaders from several markets in Islamabad arrived to protest against the rises in government taxes and electricity price increases.
Shouting anti-government slogans, protesters carried banners and electricity bills. "This is purely a protest by traders; no political party can claim it," said Aabpara market general secretary Akhtar Abbasi.
"I am a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), but we have put aside politics for the public interest. We have raised our voices against the exorbitant increase in electricity bills for the sake of the poor," Abbasi added. Merchants chanted slogans rejecting high electricity prices. "Traders across the country are protesting against the sharp rise in electricity prices," said Ajmal Baloch, president of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran. "Soon, the rulers will have to be accountable to the people," he warned.
"The prime minister, who says our budget is prepared by the IMF, should resign immediately," Baloch said. "There are twelve-hour power cuts in the country. The same companies with which you make agreements are in charge of generating electricity," he added.
Baloch highlighted the various taxes on electricity bills: "There is a 21 percent sales tax on a bill of fourteen thousand rupees, followed by thirteen other types of taxes."He criticized political leaders for not fulfilling their election promises. . "Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal promised free electricity for up to 300 units during the elections," he said. "May God guide them as they fail to govern effectively," Baloch commented. Furthermore, he condemned the government for its mismanagement and corruption.
Baloch also highlighted the widespread nature of the protests: "Traders are protesting in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi, Balochistan and Sindh. There is no district or tehsil in Pakistan without protests right now."
In a warning to the government, he said: "If these electricity taxes are not withdrawn, we will go on a shutdown strike. If the government does not reverse the electricity price increase, we will decide on further action after consultations."Baloch criticized the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for labeling traders as thieves, emphasizing that 17,000 industrialists and traders pay taxes. He accused parliamentarians of misappropriating funds intended for infrastructure.
"These rulers are not just thieves; they are robbers," Baloch declared. "Prime Minister, listen carefully, his government is on shaky ground. Remove taxes on electricity, or the next protest will be a siege on the Prime Minister's House," he warned.
He noted that 1.5 million Pakistanis have left the country and criticized Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for ruining the real estate business with excessive taxes. Baloch concluded with cries of unity and action, urging people to wake up for the good of the country. Women also joined the protest against electricity price increases, and the demonstration ended peacefully as traders dispersed.
In Rawalpindi, symbolic shutdown strikes did not materialize in all markets due to factionalism within traders' organizations. However, traders took to the streets, chanting slogans against taxes on electricity bills and burning gas bills.
The protest on Bank Road saw the participation of traders from Kashmir Road, Haider Road and other markets. A faction of traders held a symbolic strike by closing businesses at 4 pm. In Peshawar, traders held a protest demonstration against tax impositions, increases in electricity prices and inflation.
Organized by Tanzeem Tajiran, the rally began at Milad Chowk and concluded at Chowk Yadgar, with participants demanding removal of newly imposed taxes and a reduction in electricity prices, according to the Dawn report.