Economic woes fuel protests by the business community: Shahid Rasheed.

ISLAMABAD -- Economic miseries are fuelling protests by masses and the dissatisfied business community across the country which is a threat to stability, a business leader said Saturday.

IMF dictation regarding tax collection have made life difficult for the masses facing record inflation and these steps are killing businesses which has agitated the anger of traders, said Shahid Rasheed Butt former President ICCI.

He said that the motive behind protests and strike is not political but purely economic as the disappointed business community is struggling to attract customers hit by a sliding rupee and inflation.

Shahid Rasheed Butt said that government is engaged in useless meetings with the traders and using threats which is fuelling agitation as a record number of businesses are facing bankruptcy.

He said that tax measures by the IMF are not aligned with the ground realities while FBR harassment has created mistrust and prompted protests across the country.

Traders say that government want to burden them under documentation and taxation but it is least interested in improving business climate.

The government want to collect taxes like practiced in the developed nations but it is not ready to provide facilities given to taxpayers in European nations, he said.

The business leader noted that...