South Punjab Business, Industry Defer July 19 Strike Call

Faizan Hashmi Published July 19, 2025 | 12:40 AM

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jul, 2025) Business, and industry representatives from south Punjab announced here Friday to call off the strike they had earlier announced for July 19 in the light of high level negotiations between the government and business leaders over tax reforms.

The Multan Trade Bodies Alliance has announced the postponement of its planned strike scheduled for July 19, says an official release issued by Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) late on Friday night.

The decision came after a meeting chaired by Haroon Akhtar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Revenue, where representatives from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and regional chambers voiced serious concerns over enforcement provisions in the recent tax legislation.

During the talks, FPCCI President and business leader Atif Ikram Sheikh presented a "Charter of Demand" on behalf of the business community.

FBR officials and tax experts provided clarifications on various aspects of the new law, and it was agreed that contentious clauses would be amended in consultation with trade bodies, with final recommendations to be submitted to the Prime Minister, the release said.

Multan Chamber of Commerce President Mian Bakhtawar Tanveer Sheikh confirmed that significant progress had been made, stating that the business community supports economic documentation but insists on a mutually agreed framework.

The Multan Chamber, backed by other South Punjab chambers and trader groups, emphasized that future actions will depend on the government's response and the outcome of the reform committee's recommendations. Most chambers nationwide have also agreed to give the government time to address concerns constructively.