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Mixed response on

second day of strike

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Mixed response was observed in Punjab on the second day of the strike call given by traders against the recent power tariff hike and the three controversial columns in the income tax forms.

BR correspondent Almas A. Khan reports that all wholesalers and retailers gave the same gesture that was given on first day of the two days strike. All the major and minor markets of the provincial metropolis were presenting a deserted look.

The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) had already announced that they were not supporting the strike. Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) respondent negatively as 2,051,500 shares of 286 companies were traded there.

The traders' strike was supported by the major opposition parties and their trading cells including Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) ANP and others to press the government to withdraw its decision which had added to the burden on small traders.

Reports received from other parts of the province revealed that all the wholesale and retailers of the major cities remained closed. The two days strike of the business community caused a great loss to the government in terms of non-payment of octroi, electricity charges and POL.

Police contingents were deployed at all major business centres to avoid any untoward incident. However, not a single incident was reported.

Haji Maqsood Butt, President Anjuman-E-Tajiran, Punjab while talking to the newsmen said that he had convened a meeting of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Traders and Cottage Industries (FPCTCI) to be held in Lahore on August 30 to evolve further strategy.

He said that the meeting would decide the next date of another two days strike to keep the pressure on the government. He said that the traders had decided not to file income tax returns according to the new schedule.

He also demanded implementation of what he called governments announcements to bifurcate the chambers of commerce and industries. Meanwhile, the traders of the provincial metropolis observed a hunger strike for the seventh consecutive day on Sunday. The Presidents and other office bearers of the major markets of the city participated in the hunger strike.

PPI adds from Islamabad: Shutters remained down for the second day on Sunday on the shops and commercial centres in response to the appeal of the traders association to press for the acceptance of their demand by the government.

There was complete strike in Rawalpindi while in Islamabad in Super Market, a few shops were open. Public transport operated as routine.

Heavy police force was posted at important commercial centres to avoid any untoward incident.

Khalid Abbas Saif adds from Faisalabad: Fruit and vegetable market, Pan and Lakkar Mandi, Hotels, Tea shops, grocery shops, and otehr business dealing in eatables remained closed.

Almost all major textile mills and powerloom units also discontinued their normal working. Traders observed token strike against what they alleged the luke warn attitude of govt towards their problems.

Mohammad Ashraf adds from Sargodha: Some shops, were opened after 3.00 pm and a few shopkeepers were seen sitting idle in front of their respective shops with shutters down. This correspondent visited all business centres and bazars and witnessed 90 percent of the shops remained shut. Partial strike was reported from other parts of district. Petrol pumps, cinemas, hotels and modical stores remained open it was amazing to note that even traders of ruling alliance also fully endorsed this two-day strike.

Maqbool Bukhari adds from Multan: All major markets remained closed on Sunday, however partial strike was observed in a number of bazars and shopping centres. All hotels, cimena houses, green grocery shops remained open. The sdtrike call apparently remaineded unheeded in towns and small cities. Traders of Masoom Shah road and Hafiz Jamal Road did not observe the strike as a protest against the goondaism of group of traders who had threatened them for dire consequences if they opened the shops. Extra-ordinary rush was witnessed at cinema houses and hotels. A spokesman of Markazi Anjuman Tajiran said that traders have no political motive and their protest would continue till acceptance of their demands.