Traders observe partial strike in some cities
On the call given by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), almost all bazaars and shopping centers in Lahore remained closed on Saturday to register protest against the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) 37 (AA), 21-S rules while traders observed partial strike in Karachi, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Badami Bagh Auto Parts Market, Loha Market, Ganpat Road Paper Market, and bazaars at Ferozepur Road remained shut.
Similarly, markets and shopping plazas at Brandreth Road, Shah Alam Market, The Mall and Daroghe Wala also remained closed.
On the other hand, transporters, too, threw their weight behind the strike.
Tanveer Ahmad Jaat, a representative of a transporters' union, said that transporters fully supported traders’ call for a strike.
Earlier, traders were split over whether to strike on July 19 or not after the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) announced the postponement of the protest following negotiations with the government.
Strongly reacting to the announcement, LCCI President Mian Abu Zar Shad said in a video statement that talks with the government were not fruitful; therefore, traders of the city would strike.
Similarly, Karachi Chamber President Javed Balwani said that all trade associations of the city had decided to observe a strike. On Friday, the 24News TV channel reported that the business community had postponed the countrywide strike after successful talks with the government over certain budgetary measures introduced through the Finance Act 2025.
FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh, while addressing a press conference along with the representatives of the business community, said that business community wanted the issues to be resolved through negotiations and the government had assured that it would review Article 37A of the Finance Act.
Atif Ikram said a four-member committee will be formed on this issue and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will give final approval to these proposals.
A day earlier, the federal government invited representatives of all trade bodies for negotiations after Karachi's business community and transporters announced a countrywide wheel-jam strike scheduled for July 19.
On the occasion, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala Chambers of Commerce had announced the postponement of strike.
President Quetta Chamber of Commerce said all issues will be resolved in a month and there is no need for strike after government’s assurance.
Saqib Fayyaz Magon said representatives of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujranwala and Quetta Chambers, representatives of Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad Chambers of Commerce were also present in the meeting and business community across the country had decided not to go on strike.
He said the rift between the government and the business community had ended.
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) had called the strike in protest against five key measures incorporated into the federal budget for the current fiscal year, along with 32 anomalies in the Finance Act.
Partial strike in Karachi
Meanwhile, traders observed a partial strike in Karachi as the deadlock between the government committee and traders persisted.
Jorrya Bazaar, Sadar, Regal, Madison Market, Bolton Market, Sarya Gali Band, fruit, vegetable market, Liaquatabad, Sarafa Bazaar, Hyderi, Korangi, Orangi and Light House were all closed.
Similarly, industrial units also remained shut.
Businesses also remained shut in Federal B. Area and North Karachi.
However, responding to the appeal made by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), traders in Gul Plaza and Timber Market opened their shops.
Shopping centers open in Faisalabad
Meanwhile, all markets and bazaars at Faisalabad remained open.
Traders said they had reservations over the finance bill.
However, the government has sought time. If the reservations were not addressed, then the future course of action would be devised after consultations, they said.
Reporters: Baseem Iftikhar, Kawish Memon, Fazeel Ahmad and Shahzad Khan Abdali