CM fails to stop traders’ protest

LAHORE
Traders stick to their plans to hold a protest against Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on imposition of withholding tax on all type of banking transactions while the Punjab CM assured them to take up their issue with the federal government by himself to resolve it amicably.
Chief Minister Shahbaz held a meeting with the Anjuman-e-Tajran at his residence 180-H Model Town. Representatives of all trader bodies attended the meeting including Ashraf Bhatti, Khalid Pervez, Anjum Mahboob Butt, Naeem Mir, Abdul Razzaq Babar, Mahboob Sirki, Khawaja Shafiq and Shahid Nazir. The PML-N traders’ wing leadership who initially created differences among the trader bodies including MNA Pervez Malik, Political Assistant to the Chief Minister Nasir Saeed, Muhammad Ali Mian and others also attended the meeting.
Shahbaz Sharif told the traders that he already had contacted Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to convey their concern over imposition of 0.6 percent withholding tax and urged them to review the matter. The CM said the traders’ community was the backbone of economy and it always played an important role in progress and development.
However, the CM asked the traders to contribute their due share in the economic development of the country by paying their share of taxes. He said it was in national interest that that the traders should pay taxes.
In the evening, the Anjuman-e-Tajran leadership while addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club said the traders appreciated the CM, who called them and listened to their grievances.
“We have made it clear that we will continue our protest as per plan as in the past the government had backed out of its commitments too”, Naeem Mir said. He said the traders stick to their protest plans and will continue its preparation without giving any thought to postpone their protest. He said the meeting with the CM might give an impression among the traders that the issue was being resolved. However, he said the traders should continue their preparation and be ready for agitation until the government accepted their demands.
The traders’ leadership said the traders were in talks with the government in the past and they would negotiate with the government in future too.
But it does not mean that the protest is postponed or called off, they said.
teachers’ role: Shahbaz Sharif has said teachers have a high status in society as they play an important role in guidance and character-building of students. He said it cannot be denied that after parents, teachers have the biggest impact on personality of a human being.
In his message on International Teachers’ Day, the CM said the purpose of celebrating Salam Teachers Day is to highlight the importance of education and dignity of teachers. He said nations reach the height of progress only through respect to their teachers. He said on the Teachers’ Day all citizens will have to pledge that respect of teachers will be ensured as they are benefactors of society.