Islamabad 17 July: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has confirmed that the nationwide strike scheduled for July 19 will proceed as planned.
The nationwide shutdown strike will be held as per its schedule, neither postponed nor cancelled, said Muhammad Javed Balwani, President Karachi Chamber of commerce and Industry (KCCI).
The plan to hold a nationwide strike is intact and it will be implemented with full preparations, said Javed Balwani. The elements spreading rumours about the postponement or cancellation of the strike have nothing to do with the strike said President Karachi Chamber.
The president said the strike decision was taken in agreement with chambers across all provinces, and any change would be jointly announced. He urged traders nationwide to support the shutdown and ignore misinformation.
The strike is being held to protest five specific budgetary measures that the business community says were left unaddressed:
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- Withdrawal of Sections 37A and 37B, which allow tax officials to arrest and prosecute;
- Repeal of Section 21(S), which penalizes cash transactions above Rs. 200,000;
- Abolition of Section 40C, which mandates the e-Bilty system for goods transport;
- Withdrawal of SRO 709, enforcing digital invoicing;
- Restoration of the Final Tax Regime (FTR) for exporters.
The government has formed a committee to consult traders over 30 days, but KCCI says the strike will continue as their demands remain unmet.
