CHAKDARA: Malakand Division trader community announced to block Swat Motorway on October 07 against imposition of illegal taxes in Malakand division.
An important meeting of the Malakand Division trader community was held at Miral Hotel, Chakdara, under the chairmanship of President Abdul Rahim.
Addressing the meeting, General Secretary of Swat Traders Federation Dr. Khalid Mahmood Khalid said that a full-fledged struggle will be launched for the restoration of the constitutional and legal status of Malakand Division and against the imposition of various oppressive taxes on the people of the division.
He said that from June 30, 2026, the federal and provincial governments have imposed various taxes on the people of Malakand Division including thousands of rupees of taxes in electricity and sui gas bills, property tax, income tax, customs tax and general sales tax, which is an injustice to the people of a conflict-hit, backward, poverty-stricken and flood-affected region.
In the meeting, an appeal was made to civil society, lawyers, journalist community, private schools and hospitals, bargain labor and working class and all political parties’ provincial leaders, district presidents and workers to participate fully in this protest movement.
In the meeting, it was decided that on Wednesday, October 7, the Chakdara Motorway will be closed for all types of traffic. Trader leaders appealed to the public to unite and participate fully in the protest sit-in for achieving their rights and restoration of the constitutional and legal status of Malakand Division.
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