Demand exemption of bank interest, electricity fees, other taxes

Srinagar: Traders have unanimously demanded concessions from the government in electricity fees, bank interest and other taxes, sayingthe working days have been limited to one day a week.
Kashmir Trade Alliance President Ajaz Shahdhar, Shahar Khas Traders Coordination Committee President Bashir Ahmed Kenu and City Traders and Manufacturers Guild chief Altaf Ahmed Dar said in a joint statement that during the last two years most of the business activities in the Valley came to a standstill and the traders suffered heavy losses.
They said the same trend continued for the third year and the business was shut down again due to the Covid lockdown. KTA,SKTCC and CTMG Presidents said that even after a month of complete closure of commercial and business activities, the Administration allowed the shopkeepers to do their business only one day in a week, which further aggravated their misery.
Shahdhar, Kenu and Dar said that they are not against the procedures and rules for dealing with Covid, but the administration should also take care of the small shopkeepers, whose only source of livelihood is trade. The heads of the three trade unions said in one voice that in this situation the government should announce a waiver of interest for small shopkeepers, especially bank interest, tax rebates and exemption of electricity and other fees . Alliance, Sheher KhasTraders Coordination Committee and the City Traders and Manufacturers Guild also called for a financial package for small shopkeepers, urging the government to reconsider its decision to limit trading activity to one day a week.

KR Desk