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KARACHI: Pakistan’s largest business chamber has joined forces with goods transporters from across the country to call for a nationwide strike this week on July 19 in protest against key provisions in the government’s new Finance Act 2025, which they say threaten to paralyze economic activity and stifle trade.

The president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, announced the planned shutdown at a press conference on Monday, flanked by senior chamber officials and leaders of multiple transport alliances.

The strike, they warned, will halt the movement of goods and bring business operations to a grinding halt if the federal government fails to suspend what they describe as “anti-business” measures.

“Unless the government puts all these measures in abeyance, the nationwide strike scheduled for July 19 will take place with full force, bringing economic activity across the country to a grinding halt,” Bilwani said, according to the official statement.

The business community says more than 50 trade associations nationwide have pledged formal support for the strike, signaling what could be one of the biggest shutdowns in Pakistan in recent years if the deadlock persists.

The chamber has listed five key demands, including withdrawal of new sections that grant the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) powers to arrest traders, penalties on cash transactions above Rs200,000, mandatory digital invoicing, a new e-bilty requirement for goods transporters, and the restoration of the Final Tax Regime for exporters.

Bilwani said transporters’ associations had pledged “unwavering solidarity” with the business community and committed to a complete wheel-jam strike that will stop the movement of trucks nationwide on July 19.

“No vehicle will move… in absolute unity with the business community,” he said.

This is not the first time Pakistan’s business community has threatened mass shutdowns in response to tax measures. But the show of unity between traders and goods transporters has raised fears of significant supply chain disruptions.

Bilwani said while the Ministry of Finance has made informal contact with the chamber, there has been no official commitment to roll back the controversial measures. He insisted that “only upon suspension of these provisions” would the business community agree to any further talks with lawmakers.

Chairman of the Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala, also speaking at the event, warned that the strike was a last resort:

“While the business community does not favor frequent strikes, the prevailing conditions have left no other option,” he said, according to the KCCI statement.

Transport leaders, including representatives of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance and other associations, declared their “full and unconditional support” for the strike and pledged to remain aligned with KCCI’s demands “regardless of the consequences.”

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Tuesday issued an urgent weather alert warning of torrential rains with strong winds and thunderstorms expected to lash cities across the province through July 17, posing serious risks of flash floods, urban flooding and landslides.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA)’s fresh warning comes as the country’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Monday the nationwide monsoon death toll had hit 111 since June 26, including 40 fatalities in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province. Another 212 people have been injured in rain-related incidents across the country.

The annual monsoon season, which brings 70 to 80 percent of South Asia’s rainfall, is vital for agriculture and the livelihoods of millions of farmers but increasingly brings devastation due to erratic and extreme weather. Pakistan remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, with memories still raw from the 2022 floods that killed over 1,700 people and submerged a third of the country, causing over $33 million in economic losses. 

“PDMA’s provincial control room and district emergency operation centers have been put on alert,” a PDMA spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday. “There are chances of heavy rain in upper river catchments, including Lahore and the northern regions, which could lead to flash floods.”

The PDMA said the fresh wet spell, driven by a low-pressure area over India’s Madhya Pradesh state, is expected to affect upper and central parts of Pakistan in the coming days. Strong monsoon currents and a westerly wave could intensify rainfall, especially in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Punjab.

According to the latest alert, low-lying urban areas face risks of flooding in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad and other cities. The hilly regions of Murree and Galiyat could see landslides, while strong winds and lightning may damage vulnerable structures such as rooftops of mud houses, electric poles, billboards and vehicles.

The Director General of PDMA Punjab, Irfan Ali Kathia, has instructed district administrations to keep staff and machinery on high alert, ensure drainage channels stay clear and monitor low-lying areas to prevent urban flooding.

“WASA and municipal bodies must ensure that rainwater does not accumulate,” Kathia said. “Field officers should remain present and supervise operations.”

Residents, tourists and travelers have been urged to avoid unnecessary exposure during the stormy spell and to seek safe shelter where possible. In case of emergency, citizens can call the PDMA helpline at 1129.