Malakand traders observe partial shutter-down strike against taxes

shangla  –  On the call of traders’ organizations, a partial shutter-down strike was observed across Malakand Division on Tuesday against the change in the region’s special status and the imposition of taxes. Transport services also remained suspended.

According to details, traders and people from different walks of life across the division announced that they would not accept the change in the special status of Malakand Division under any circumstances. They said Malakand Division has historically enjoyed a special status, and changing it to impose taxes was unacceptable to the people of the region.

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The people of Malakand Division demanded full implementation of the promises and agreements made at the time of the merger of the region into Pakistan.

They said that, due to extremely difficult economic conditions, natural disasters, militancy, and weak trade activity, the people of Malakand Division were not in a position to bear the burden of taxes. They demanded that the special status of Malakand Division be immediately restored and the taxes abolished.

The protest movement, shutter-down strike, and demonstrations were intended to demonstrate that the people of Malakand Division do not accept the change in the region’s special status or the imposition of taxes.

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Malakand Division has its own special status, and the people of the region are demanding fulfilment of the promises and written agreements made at the time of its merger into Pakistan rather than being subjected to additional taxes.

According to Article 247 of the 1973 Constitution, these areas had a special legal and constitutional status, including tax exemptions. At the time of changing this legal and constitutional status, a final decision could have been taken after taking all stakeholders into confidence. However, the government unilaterally decided to end the special status of these areas from July 1 and impose taxes, a decision that, according to traders and local residents, is unacceptable.

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Meanwhile, the provincial government has also issued a notification regarding the collection of provincial taxes. According to the Finance Department, however, the matter has been limited to a resolution and no formal departmental action has been taken so far. Traders and residents also claim that taxes are being deducted from government employees, private-sector businesses, and others, describing the practice as unjust.

On the other hand, according to media reports, the federal government has also decided to end the special status of these areas and impose taxes, and a committee has reportedly been formed in this regard. According to the reports, the committee has sought information from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other federal institutions and is reviewing the tax-free status of Malakand Division.

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Media reports further suggest that it has been decided to abolish the special status and tax-free status of these areas and formally implement laws for tax collection. However, this development could not be independently confirmed.

Traders’ organizations and various groups in Malakand Division have demanded the immediate restoration of the region’s special status, withdrawal of the taxes, and full implementation of the promises and written agreements made at the time of the merger into Pakistan.

They said the people of Malakand Division were not in a position to bear an additional tax burden because of difficult economic conditions, natural disasters, militancy, and weak trade activity. They also maintained that any unilateral change in the region’s special status was unacceptable.

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