950823

Lahore traders'

hunger strike

enters 3rd day

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The traders of the provincial metropolis observed hunger strike on the third consecutive day on Wednesday to press the government for the acceptance of their demands.

President, Anjuman-e-Tajiran, Punjab, Haji Maqsood Butt while talking to Business Recorder said that the hunger strike would continue till the acceptance of traders' demands.

He said that earlier, the hunger strike was only observed in the provincial metropolis but the traders have decided to observe a series of countrywide hunger strike. It was unanimously decided in a tranders' convention be held at Peshawar on Tuesday.

He said that the Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto had made a promise to the traders' community that they would be exempted from wealth tax on one house and one shop but the promise has not yet been honoured.

Butt said that the trades were ready to pay fair taxes but the present government had crossed all limits in levying taxes on the traders. He said that the government had compelled the traders to take to the streets.

President, Anjuman-e-Tajiran, Punjab, said that the business community would keep their businesses closed on August 26 and 27 across the country. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the restrictions imposed by the Form-A of the income tax and abolition of the recent increase in power tariffs.

He expressed his apprehension that the government would withdraw the self-assessment scheme with 20 percent increase over the last year return.