PESHAWAR: Representatives of traders’ bodies have condemned what they described as the ongoing harassment of traders by the sales tax department officials, warning that ‘forced registration’ under the sales tax regime would not be accepted under any circumstances.

In a joint statement issued here on Monday, All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajran president and Traders Action Committee chairman Ajmal Baloch, general secretary Yaseen Mengal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Malik Mehr Elahi, Punjab president Malik Shahid Ghafoor Pracha, South Punjab president Tariq Kareem, Balochistan president Abdul Rahim Kakar, Azad Kashmir president Iftikhar Feroz, Gilgit-Baltistan president Ghulam Hussain, Sindh Tajir Ittehad chairman Jameel Pracha, and chairman of All Pakistan Car Dealers and Importers Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ghulam Bilal Javid denounced the “unlawful and coercive actions” of the tax authorities.

The trade leaders said the ‘confiscation’ of traders’ goods in Peshawar was an illegal act and demanded the immediate return of all seized items. They alleged that inspection drives inside markets had turned into a source of corruption and intimidation rather than regulation.

They also criticised the authorities for allegedly targeting traders selling loose tea, claiming that small vendors were being pressured to shut down their businesses to benefit packaged tea companies.

The leaders termed such actions as anti-business and unacceptable.

In the statement, Ajmal Baloch said the business community would resist any conspiracy aimed at destroying small shopkeepers and that no institution would be allowed to ‘humiliate’ traders.

He added that the behaviour of Federal Board of Revenue officials was inappropriate at a time when traders were already facing a severe downturn in business activity, with sales reportedly down by around 70 per cent.

He said the country’s economic situation was deteriorating and urged those in doubt to review the latest World Bank report.

The traders’ leaders warned that if FBR failed to change its attitude and stop harassing traders, a countrywide shutter-down strike would be announced. They called upon the prime minister to take immediate notice of the issue and direct strict action against officials involved in ‘intimidating’ and ‘harassing’ traders, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2025