All aboard
It is not just ‘all trade bodies’ backing the strike against the controversial withholding tax that make it so interesting, but how it has attracted politicians of all hues of opposition. That, of course, also puts into perspective N-league’s somewhat successful efforts of splitting agitating groups. APTMA has stepped into the fray with problems of its own as well, and there will be yet one more strike in the week. Now, obviously, this raises questions that touch upon business as well as politics, putting some of our leaders in some embarrassing positions.
There continues to be a lot of confusion regarding the purpose of the strike itself. Of course, the entire matter about taxes is not helped by the government’s singular failure in expanding the tax net by conventional means. Traders, who are so eager about these strikes, are a big part of that problem because of their refusal to pay due taxes; and their knee-jerk strikes whenever confronted indirectly. The present situation is further complicated because traders form an essential chunk of the N-league’s core constituency. Smelling resentment among them, opposition parties have also found it politic to back their cause.
The trade bodies like this attention so far, even at the risk of a political hijack of their disturbance. How this benefits anybody at the end of the day is difficult to see. Surely it would be more productive to come to a settlement through negotiations. Traders must pay their taxes, the government should concentrate of traditional methods of tax expansion and the textile lobby – considering how they contribute to exports – must be facilitated within reasonable limits. Shutting down the country, bringing the economy to a halt and providing yet another platform for politicians to spar will only hurt the economy and the people. The sooner this realisation sets in the better for everybody concerned.