As July 19 draws near, one thing is clear: the business community is not backing down
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: In a powerful and unprecedented show of unity, Pakistan’s business community — from Karachi to Lahore and beyond — has thrown its full support behind Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Mian Abuzar Shad, who has taken a firm and fearless stand against what are being widely condemned as “anti-business black laws”, particularly Sections 37A and 37AA of the Sales Tax Act, and the arbitrary arrests of traders by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The call for a nationwide shutter-down strike on Saturday, July 19, 2025, has been endorsed not only by the LCCI but by trade groups, business associations, and chambers of commerce across the country, marking a historic moment of collective resistance against policies that the business sector says are pushing them toward economic collapse.
A President Who Refused to Bow Down
At the heart of this movement stands Mian Abuzar Shad — a name now synonymous with integrity and defiance in the face of injustice. Despite facing threats, pressure, and even offers of personal benefit to stay silent, Shad has continued to speak out loudly and clearly for the rights of traders, SMEs, and the wider business community. His stance has won him not just admiration but also the firm backing of nearly every major business faction in Pakistan.
“Mian Abuzar Shad is not fighting for himself — he is fighting for every small shopkeeper, every trader, every industrialist who has been suffocated under the weight of unjust laws and predatory tax practices,” said Babur Mehmood, President of the Khidmat Group Hall Road, as he announced full participation in Saturday’s strike.
Business Leaders Declare Solidarity
In a joint statement, PIAF Patron-in-Chief Mian Anjum Nisar, and former FPCCI President, Ali Hussam Asghar, Chairman of the Pioneer Business Group, and Engineer Khalid Usman, Senior Vice President of LCCI, Chairman of the Progressive Group Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhary urged the entire business community to unite behind the Chamber’s cause of business community.
“This strike is not a political stunt. It is a cry for survival. The government’s black laws — particularly 37A and 37AA — are nothing short of economic terrorism. Arresting traders without due process is a red line,” said Anjum Nisar.
Ali Hussam Asghar added, “Mian Abuzar Shad has shown courage where many would have remained silent. He has carried the burden of this entire community on his shoulders, and now we must stand with him shoulder to shoulder.”
APPMA, Market Associations Join Forces
Adding momentum to the growing movement, the All Pakistan Paper Merchants Association (APPMA) issued an official circular on July 18 announcing its full support for the LCCI-led strike. The association cited unbearable taxes on cash deposits over Rs. 200,000, 16% sales tax on commercial property rents, and an anti-industry labour policy as key reasons for their protest.
APPMA’s central leadership urged all members and traders to keep their businesses shut on Saturday in line with the strike call from Karachi, Lahore, and all major chambers of commerce. “This is no longer about individual markets — this is about the survival of business in Pakistan,” their statement read.
Widespread Frustration With FBR
The traders’ fury has been largely triggered by Sections 37A and 37AA, recently enforced by the FBR. These controversial clauses give the tax authorities unchecked powers to arrest traders without court orders, harass businesses for cash transactions, and impose unrealistic tax burdens, especially on small- and medium-sized enterprises.
“This is a complete violation of constitutional rights and business ethics,” said Malik Farooq Hafeez, Chairman of Small Traders at LCCI. “Instead of facilitating business, the government is threatening, arresting, and taxing us into oblivion.”
A Peaceful but Powerful Protest
Despite the anger and desperation, LCCI leadership has maintained a consistent message of peaceful protest, dialogue, and logic-based engagement. “We do not believe in violence or confrontation. We believe in negotiation, in facts, in the constitution,” said Khalid Usman.
He added, “Tomorrow’s strike is not just a closure of shops — it is a symbolic closure of patience. We hope the government finally understands that its policies are not just flawed — they are unsustainable.”
The strike will see complete closure of major business hubs in Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, and Peshawar, among others.
The Message is Clear: Enough is Enough
With their backs against the wall, Pakistan’s business community has chosen unity as its greatest weapon. The LCCI, under the honest and fearless leadership of Mian Abuzar Shad, has emerged as the true voice of traders and industrialists, echoing their grievances and asserting their demands with courage.
“This time, we won’t be silent,” said Shad. “This time, the entire business community is speaking with one voice — and that voice demands justice, dignity, and economic freedom.”
As July 19 draws near, one thing is clear: the business community is not backing down.
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