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KARACHI: Local traders on Thursday staged a protest in Saddar area of Karachi against the imposition of General Sales Tax (GST) on the current electricity bills.
As per details, the local traders were protesting against the general sales tax (GST) of Rs6,000 per month levied on electricity bills for retailers.
Meanwhile, All City Tajir Ittehad President Sharjeel Goplani urged all Karachi traders to protest against the inflated bills.
Speaking on the occasion, Karachi traders said that the electricity bills already include sales tax, income tax, fuel adjustment and additional taxes. “Collection of general sales tax from consumers is a total injustice,” they added.
“The government was ‘extorting money’ from masses through inflated bills and other taxes and it would not accept such oppressive policies,” the protesters added.
Earlier in the day, K-Electric, the sole power utility in Karachi, submitted a request to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) seeking another hike of Rs11.39 in tariff under fuel adjustment charges.
The All City Traders’ Association said that imposing a sales tax of Rs 6,000 on the electricity bill of every shop in Karachi since June is excessive for the shopkeepers.
Meanwhile, the president of the chamber said that while imposing taxes, the government did not differentiate the size of the shop. On the other hand, Sindh Sarafa Bazar Jewelers Association also rejected the decision to impose a 40 thousand monthly tax on jewelers.