Islamabad: A planned nationwide strike by the business community has been called off following successful negotiations between traders and the federal government, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) announced on Friday.
Speaking at a joint press conference alongside representatives of major trade bodies, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said the government had agreed to review contentious clauses of the Finance Act 2025, leading to the decision to withdraw the strike call.
“All major trade bodies across Pakistan are with us,” he said. “We do not want confrontation; we want to resolve issues through dialogue.”
The agreement came during a special committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister’s aide Haroon Akhtar, where the two sides discussed revisions to provisions that had triggered widespread discontent among traders.
According to Sheikh, the government has assured the business community it will revisit Article 37A, which had become a flashpoint in recent protests. In addition, a four-member committee has been formed to review the matter, and Article 40B will also be examined.
He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would give final approval to any proposed changes. “There will be no nationwide strike,” Sheikh confirmed, although he acknowledged there could still be isolated incidents of protest in some areas.
Senior FPCCI Vice President Saqib Fayyaz Magoon said representatives from key regional chambers — including Gujranwala, Quetta, Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad — were part of the meeting and backed the decision.
All Pakistan Traders Association President Ajmal Baloch described the meeting as unprecedented in its unity. “It’s the first time our association and the FPCCI are standing together,” he said. “We believe there’s no immediate need for a nationwide strike.”
Baloch said the traders had raised four core concerns during a four-hour dialogue session and were assured that the government would work to resolve them. “Haroon Akhtar has been fully empowered by the prime minister,” he said.
However, he cautioned that the business community remains watchful. “If our concerns are not addressed, a strike may still be considered in the future.”
