JI announces complete strike in Karachi on September 3 over taxes

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Emir Munim Zafar has announced a complete strike across the city on September 3.

He said the strike is being organised to protest rising inflation, what he described as excessive taxes and the government’s failure to address public concerns.

Zafar announced this while addressing a press conference, where he criticised the economic difficulties faced by ordinary citizens.

He said the working class and low-income families are struggling with rising living costs and increasing financial pressure.

Munim Zafar highlights inflation concerns

Zafar said inflation has made it increasingly difficult for ordinary families to manage their daily expenses.

He said people are facing higher costs for food, transport and other essential items. The JI leader also criticised the petroleum levy, saying additional charges on fuel are adding to the burden on consumers.

According to Zafar, consumers are paying around Rs130 in taxes and levies on every litre of petrol. He argued that higher fuel costs eventually affect the prices of other goods because transportation becomes more expensive.

JI raises issue of petroleum levy

The petroleum levy was one of the key issues highlighted by the JI leader.

Zafar said the additional charges on fuel are increasing financial pressure on households already struggling with inflation. He said higher petrol prices affect not only motorists but also the prices of food and other essential commodities.

Transportation costs are closely linked to the movement of goods from farms and factories to markets. The JI has therefore called for measures to reduce the burden of fuel-related costs on ordinary citizens.

Concerns over low-income households

Zafar also raised concerns about the financial situation of low-income salaried workers.

He questioned how a family could manage its monthly expenses on an income of Rs40,000 to Rs45,000 amid rising prices.

He said many households are struggling to meet their basic needs and are facing severe financial pressure.

Zafar also claimed that some financially distressed people were being pushed towards extreme steps. His remarks reflected the JI’s broader criticism of the economic pressures faced by lower-income groups.

JI criticises government spending

The JI emir also criticised what he described as excessive government spending and the lifestyles of those in power. He claimed that ordinary citizens were struggling to afford even basic meals while large amounts of public money were being wasted.

Also Read: Sindh expands Pink Electric Scooty Scheme to Mirpurkhas

Zafar called for greater responsibility in the use of government funds. He argued that public resources should be used to provide relief to citizens rather than being spent unnecessarily.

PIMS fire incident highlighted

During the press conference, Zafar also spoke about the recent fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.

He referred to reports that 14 children lost their lives in the incident. Zafar said similar tragedies had occurred at healthcare facilities in the past and raised questions about fire safety arrangements in hospitals.

He described the PIMS incident as a serious failure of safety measures. His comments came amid wider concerns about fire prevention, emergency exits and evacuation arrangements at healthcare facilities.

Healthcare safety concerns grow

The JI leader said hospitals must have proper safety arrangements to protect patients, staff and visitors.

He pointed to the vulnerability of children and other patients who may not be able to evacuate quickly during an emergency. Hospitals require functioning fire alarms, firefighting equipment and clear emergency exits.

Regular inspections and fire drills can also help staff respond more effectively when an emergency occurs. The issue has gained greater attention following recent fire-related incidents at public facilities.

Karachi strike set for September 3

The JI has set September 3 for a complete strike in Karachi. The party says the action is aimed at highlighting public concerns over inflation, taxation and the cost of living.

The announcement could affect commercial and business activity across the city if traders, transporters and other groups support the call. The scale of the strike will depend on how widely the call is followed.