Zafarwal / Multan : August 25,2024 : All Pakistan Fertilizer Dealers Association (APFDA) has announced a countrywide strike for August 28 against imposition of H 236 provision for collection of withholding tax on the sale of fertilizers sale , APFDA announced the countrywide strike against the government decision on Sunday . APFDA in its call for the strike said inclusion of fertilizers sale for imposition of withholding tax is a deep -rooted conspiracy against the trading of fertilizers as well as against the farming community . APFDA has called upon all the fertilizer dealers and sub dealers across Pakistan to join for a countrywide strike against imposition of withholding tax on the sale of fertilizers. Talking to NEWSMAN on Sunday evening, APFDA pattern- in -chief , Mr Ghulam Ahmad , said the government decision to impose withholding tax on fertilizers sale is anti businesses and anti growers and hence unacceptable to the fertilizer dealers. He argued that under 236 H of the Financial Act 2024,25 , fertilizer dealers are required to collect 0 50 % withholding tax from filer farmers and 2.5 % from non-filer growers. Mr Ghulam Ahmad said ” How can the dealers collect withholding tax from the growers who buy fertilizers for the use in their fields “. Mr Ghulam Ahmad vowed to resist the government decision of adding the fertilizers sale in 236 H provision of the Finance Act 2024-25. APFDA ‘s argument to reject imposition of withholding tax on the sale of fertilizers has great logic . On the one hand , the Shahbaz Sharif government is making. tall claims of providing every possible relief to the farming community and in the other its Finance minister , Mohammad Aurangzeb, has added the sale of fertilizers in the withholding tax regime . Finance minister , Mohammad Aurangzeb , being a banker , has no idea as to how his decision of adding the sale of fertilizers in withholding regime can damage to the agriculture sector of Pakistan. Its high time that prime minister , Shahbaz Sharif , should immediately intervene in the issue lest APFDA strike goes into indefinite mode . The dealers strike at this stage when the main crops of the season need fertilizers particularly urea the announced strike of the dealers can damage crops productivity.