Traders countrywide shutdown from Oct 7

LAHORE
All groups of the traders have announced a countrywide shutdown for indefinite period of time from October 7, 2015 if the government will not withdraw withholding tax on banking transactions.
All groups of the traders finally united against the government imposition of withholding tax on banking transactions after earlier differences created by the traders belonging to PML-N. However, with the efforts of veteran trader leaders, the trader community got united against the government.
The announcement was made by the trader leaders of various groups in joint press conference here at the Lahore Press Club on Monday. The representatives of the trader groups giving details of their agitation against the government on imposition of withholding tax on banking transactions said that traders would stage protest and take out rallies across the country on September 2, suspend dealing with banks from September 4, while on September 9, they will observe countrywide shutdown.
They said even the government and Federal Board of Revenue would not withdraw the withholding tax on banking transactions the traders would show their real power from October 7, which lead to closing of businesses for indefinite period of time until the government reverse its decision.
Terming the FBR announcement regarding deduction of withholding tax at 6 percent rate from October 1 is rubbing salt into their wounds. They said some elements in the FBR and government were trying to create difficulties by wrongly guiding them on the withholding tax on banking transactions. They said the traders were united with a single cause of reversal of withholding tax on all banking transactions and they would not call off their agitation with it. They said the elements who created differences among the traders were also exposed and traders would not pay heed to their assertions.