Steel traders would observe a countrywide strike on Friday in protest against 5 percent increase in sales tax on steel products in the Budget 2007-08.
President, Pakistan Steel and Iron Merchant Association (PISMA), Ghulam Mohammad in a press conference in Karachi Press Club on Thursday, termed the government's 20 percent tax on steel iron as unjust and said if the government could not withdraw this upsurge, further protest would be announced. On the occasion Shamoon Baqir Ali, Saeed Shafiq and other representatives of steel trade were also present.
Ghulam Muhammad said the 5 percent rise in sales tax has badly effected the trade of steel and workers related to small industries and the steel products, besides increasing prices of steel products. A certain group with some government officials as accomplices get the 20 percent items cleared at the rates fixed for the 5 percent items, he accused.
Ghulam criticising the government for creating difficulties for importers demanded that steel production should immediately be declared as raw material and raise the duty from zero to five percent.
"We have contacted with the steel dealers across the country and the response from them has come out positively to go on strike on Friday and have ensured complete assistance in this regard," saed Shafiq vice president Karachi Iron and Steel Merchants Association said.
He said today across the country over 1,500 including Pakistan steel dealers will shut down over 100 markets to lodge protest against the raise in sales tax. All government officials including chairman Central Board of Revenue (CBR) have rejected our request of reduction in the sales tax and proposal of rationalisation of customs duty on steel products, which compelled the traders to observe strike, he added.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.