Traders in Kohat Cantonment, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, took to the streets in a fervent rally, condemning a staggering 400% rent increase imposed by the Kohat Cantonment Board. The dramatic rent hike has led to the sealing of numerous stores, with traders saying that the board is leveraging its authority to inflict financial hardship and exploit local businesses.
The protest, organized by Mansoor Bagh, president of the cantonment traders’ association, highlighted the dire economic conditions facing the merchants. Bagh criticized the Kohat Cantonment Board for exacerbating their struggles through exorbitant rent increases at a time when traders are already burdened by soaring inflation, inflated electricity bills, and oppressive taxation. He further said that the board is engaged in its own business operations, which adds to the economic strain on local shopkeepers. “Despite paying PKR 40,000 to 60,000 in rent, shopkeepers are being harassed and their stores sealed arbitrarily,” Bagh said.
Shiraz Paracha, another leader of the protest, described the rent hike as an economic catastrophe. He said that efforts to negotiate a reduction with the cantonment board officials had failed, exacerbating the already volatile business climate. Paracha highlighted that rents in Kohat’s main bazaar remain considerably lower, ranging from PKR 25,000 to 40,000, emphasizing the stark contrast and unfair treatment faced by traders in the cantonment area. The protesters have appealed to the Kohat division commissioner, the deputy commissioner, and local security officials to intervene and address the unjust rent increases.
Earlier in the week, the Pakistan City Traders Association had also staged a protest against inflated electricity bills, rising inflation, and the controversial Tajir Dost Scheme—a new tax regime imposing an advance tax of PKR 60,000 per month on both registered and unregistered traders. The association demanded the cancellation of the scheme and the withdrawal of punitive notices issued to traders.
The situation in Kohat Cantonment reflects broader issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where traders face an exploitative environment characterized by economic instability, security concerns, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. The Punjabi Pakistan Army is exacerbating economic woes of the local Pashtuns and marginalizing their small businesses.