In a late-night move, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has announced a nationwide shutter-down strike set for Saturday, July 19.
The strike comes in response to a series of newly implemented tax policies that the business community considers harmful to trade and economic activity.
According to the KCCI’s official statement, traders across the country alongside other leading chambers of commerce plan to fully participate in the protest.
Business leaders argue that the latest tax measures include harsh provisions such as the controversial Rs200,000 transaction threshold, expanded arrest powers granted to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and compulsory digital invoicing and e-billing requirements.
“These policies are forcing the business community into a corner. The strike reflects collective frustration against reforms that endanger economic stability and threaten the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises,” the KCCI noted.
Several industrial and trade associations in Karachi have also declared their support for the planned shutdown, highlighting rare nationwide consensus among traders.
The timing of the announcement—released late at night—has raised concerns among observers about growing tensions between the government and the business sector.
Sources inside the chamber indicated that a recent meeting with a senior federal minister failed to ease the traders’ concerns or prevent the strike.
