Cracks Emergein Traders' Ranks over Strike

Pakistan: Karachi Traders Stage Partial Strike over Tax Raids, Arrest Powers

Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Traders in Karachi held a partial strike against new tax measures and the increased powers of Pakistan's federal tax authority to arrest and raid businesses. While some markets stayed open, most traders supported the protest, with critics calling the Finance Act FY26 anti-business, Dawn reported. World News | Pakistan: Karachi Traders Stage Partial Strike over Tax Raids, Arrest Powers.

Cracks emergein traders' ranks over strike

Cracks have emerged within the traders' community over the planned strike on Saturday, with some groups calling it off after negotiations with the government, while others remain adamant about going ahead with it. Following talks with officials, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh announced that the nationwide shutter-down strike had been called off, claiming the government had accepted th…

Nationwide Traders’ Strike Shuts Down Major Markets

A massive traders’ strike swept across Pakistan on Saturday, with major markets in cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar shutting down in protest against the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) expanded powers. However, Islamabad stood apart, where markets remained open and business continued as usual. The strike drew widespread support from traders, restaurant owners, and transport unions, signaling growing unrest in the business community ove…

Karachi, Lahore hit by strike against ‘anti-business’ tax measures

Pakistan’s two largest cities - Karachi and Lahore - faced partial and complete market closures on Saturday over a strike call by traders against what they called “anti-business” tax measures introduced in the Finance Act 2025. In the Finance Act, the government expanded the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) powers with Sections 37A and 37B, which empower FBR officials with arbitrary arrests; Section 21(S), which imposes harsh penalties on cash tra…

Traders’ partial strike against FBR’s harassment

KARACHI: In order to protest against the FBR’s harassment, following expanded powers granted under the Finance Act FY26 (including that to arrest), traders observed nationwide partial strike on Saturday (19th July, 2025). While major markets in the provincial capitals remained partially closed, many businesses in many smaller cities too opted to observe shutter-down strike. Eateries and transport associations in the Port City too supported the p…

Major Markets Shut Down in Karachi and Lahore Amid Chamber-Led Strike Over FBR Powers

Key markets in Karachi and Lahore remained closed on Saturday in response to a strike call by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), protesting against the expansion of powers granted to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). As reported, despite the federal government reaching a successful agreement with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) over th…