Taxes in Malakand Division: Swat chamber devises strategy

PESHAWAR: The ongoing protest movement against the imposition of taxes in Malakand Division (MD) is set to intensify, as the Swat Chamber of Commerce and Industry has devised a strategy for further resistance.

At an emergency meeting, participants agreed to defer a final decision until a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while making it clear that failure by the federal government to announce a satisfactory package in line with the demands of the people could lead to consideration of non-payment of utility bills, civil disobedience and other forms of protest.

The emergency meeting was chaired by Swat Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Noor Muhammad Khan and attended by Malakand Traders Federation President Abdul Rahim, spokesman Dr Khalid Mahmood, Secretary General Naveed Javed, and executive members including Adnan Ali, Haji Muhammad Yousaf, Ali Muhammad Khan, Mehboob Haroon, Abdul Basir, Bilal Rehman, Haroon Rashid, Farhad Ali Khan, Muhammad Anwar and Rahimzada, among others.

The participants welcomed the decision of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to withdraw provincial taxes and expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying the notification issued by the provincial cabinet following strong demands from members of the provincial assembly represented an important achievement of the public campaign.

The meeting, however, urged the federal government to issue a clear and final notification regarding the withdrawal of federal taxes imposed in Malakand Division. Serious concern was also expressed over the heavy taxes included in electricity and gas bills. The participants said the business community in Swat and other parts of Malakand Division was already facing severe economic pressure, while high utility bills and additional taxes had further crippled commercial activity. They warned that continuation of the present taxation regime could push the remaining business activity in the division into further decline.

The meeting said the Malakand Traders Federation and Swat Chamber of Commerce and Industry were jointly pursuing the issue on a single platform and would continue their struggle for the withdrawal of taxes. The participants assured the public that their legitimate rights would be pursued through constitutional, legal and democratic means. It was also decided to meet the parliamentary leaders of all major political parties and brief them on the concerns of the people and business community of Malakand Division. The participants urged elected representatives to raise the issue effectively in the Senate and Parliament and press the federal government for relief.

The participants said the proposed meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would be a critical stage in the matter. However, they warned that if the federal government failed to give a clear and satisfactory response to the public demands, the protest movement could be expanded and further measures would be considered.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026