Pakistan Traders Threaten to Halt Pulse Imports Over Tax Hike

Wholesale grocers in Karachi, Pakistan, have announced a shutdown of their businesses in protest against a recent increase in withholding tax and soaring electricity bills. The traders claim the 2.5% hike in withholding tax on pulses and grains, coupled with inflated electricity costs, has significantly increased their operating expenses. They have threatened to stop importing pulses if the government doesn’t address their concerns, potentially impacting the nation’s food supply. The traders argue that the tax burden is unfair, as they already pay annual fixed taxes and are also being treated as withholding agents. They emphasized that pulses and rice are essential commodities and that the government should consider exempting them from withholding taxes.