Cement dealers across Pakistan have begun a nationwide strike against what they justifiably call unfair tax policies. According to the chairman of the Cement Dealers Association, Chaudhry Sajid, dealers have stopped the supply of cement with no entity fix.

After the strike of petroleum dealers, cement dealers started protesting against excessive taxation. Stating heavy taxes and the imposition of POS machines as one of the challenges, they have stopped supplying and distributing cement within the country.

There is no appropriate platform that can be made for payment in terms of receiving money or paying for handling the heavy budget that has proclaimed heavy taxes on the cement distribution business; it has made it near impossible for dealers to ply their business, thus carrying it out for profitability.

The FBR is enforcing the POS system, which is generally applied to fast-moving consumer goods, on cement dealers, thereby adding to more operation problems.

Reacting to the pressures, the dealers have announced a strike, causing disturbances to the length and breadth of Pakistan insofar as the supply chain of cement is concerned. According to Chairman Chaudhry Sajid, “The existing tax regime and the compulsory implementation of the POS system have made running our businesses impossible. We are left with no other option but to shut down our operations and raise our voices against such injustices.”