The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has announced a peaceful nationwide strike on Saturday, July 19, to protest against the government’s new tax measures in the Finance Act.
KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani shared that this decision was taken after detailed discussions with other business groups and chambers across Pakistan. “It’s not just KCCI protesting alone—chambers and trade bodies from all over the country are fully supporting this strike,” he explained.
The business community is upset about several things:
The Rs. 200,000 income threshold and cash transaction limits
The Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) power to arrest under Section 37A
The mandatory use of digital invoicing and e-billing systems
According to Bilwani, these policies were made without proper discussion with traders and will only harm businesses by making daily operations harder, pushing many into the informal economy instead of encouraging legal compliance.
Earlier talks between KCCI and a senior federal minister didn’t solve these problems, so the strike was announced.
“KCCI stands by traders and businesses across Pakistan. We’ll keep speaking up for a fair environment so businesses can survive and grow,” Bilwani said. He also warned that if the government doesn’t address these issues soon, the strike could be extended beyond July 19.
