KARACHI: President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, expressed gratitude to the business community for their support in a nationwide strike on Saturday. The action was taken in protest of new taxation measures introduced in the Finance Act 2025-26, which he described as anti-business.

The strike, which saw a complete shutdown of markets and industries, demonstrated the economic solidarity and resistance among Pakistan's business community. Bilwani stressed that the strike was a last resort after the government's failure to address concerns raised by the business sector.

Key demands from the business community include the suspension of sections 37A and 37B of the Income Tax Ordinance, which allow for arrests and prosecutions without due process, and the withdrawal of penalties on cash transactions. The business leaders have also called for the restoration of the Final Tax Regime for exporters.

Despite discussions with a special committee led by the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance, Haroon Akhtar Khan, the community only received verbal assurances, prompting the strike as a demonstration of their dissatisfaction.

Bilwani thanked various industrial associations and trade groups for their unified response and active participation, reinforcing the call for economic justice. He also noted the support from Chambers of Commerce across Pakistan.

He warned that the strike on July 19 was just the beginning, and the KCCI will monitor the committee's progress in implementing the business community's recommendations. Without meaningful progress, the Chamber is prepared to escalate its actions to ensure the business community's concerns are addressed.