The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has confirmed that the nationwide strike scheduled for July 19 will proceed as planned.
KCCI has installed hoardings across Karachi announcing the shutdown.
The strike is being held to protest five specific budgetary measures that the business community says were left unaddressed:
Withdrawal of Sections 37A and 37B, which allow tax officials to arrest and prosecute;
Repeal of Section 21(S), which penalizes cash transactions above Rs. 200,000;
Abolition of Section 40C, which mandates the e-Bilty system for goods transport;
Withdrawal of SRO 709, enforcing digital invoicing;
Restoration of the Final Tax Regime (FTR) for exporters.
The government has formed a committee to consult traders over 30 days, but KCCI says the strike will continue as their demands remain unmet.
KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani said the strike decision was taken in agreement with chambers across all provinces, and any change would be jointly announced. He urged traders nationwide to support the shutdown and ignore misinformation.