The strike of kiln owners in South Punjab entered the 13th day against the levy of 16 percent General Sales Tax (GST). "We will not pay 16 percent General Sales Tax on the sale of bricks," said Malik Rab nawaz President of Kiln owners Association Multan while talking to newsmen, here on Tuesday.
He said that work on development schemes came to a standstill due to unavailability of bricks and more than 50,000 workers rendered jobless in South Punjab who were engaged in making bricks. A large number of brick kiln owners and labourers on Tuesday held a protest rally against the imposition of 16 percent general sales tax (GST) on bricks.
The rally started from the Chowk Naag Shah and culminated in front of the Allama Park, Nawan Shehr where the protesters staged a brief sit-in. They were holding placards inscribed with slogans against the government. They also chanted slogans against what they called injustice to them.
The Bhatta Association leaders said the imposition of the GST would affect every person by increasing the prices of bricks. They added the decision of the government would also increase unemployment and price hike, but the government was paying no heed to the issue.
They warned that if the government failed to withdraw its decision, the brick kiln workers would block the National Highway from Quetta to Torkham. He claimed around 400 families were earning their livelihood from each brick kiln, but such high taxes would force the kiln owners to downsize their workers.
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