Traders announce Pakistan-wide blockade of major intersections on 16 January

Traders have announced a nationwide protest on 16 January, during which major intersections across the country will be blocked.

Addressing a protest rally, President of the All Pakistan Traders Association, Ajmal Baloch, declared that the trader community has completely rejected the Point of Sale (POS) law, describing it as a “black law”.

He alleged that officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) are involved in bribery and that traders who fail to install the POS system are being fined up to Rs500,000.

Earlier, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Langrial had assured traders that those unable to afford the Point of Sale (POS) system would be given relief and that no trader would be harassed.

A delegation of traders led by Central Organisation of Traders Pakistan President Kashif Chaudhry met the FBR chairman. Inland Revenue member Zubair Bilal and other officials were also present at the meeting.