Muhammad Saleem Memon, President of the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI), has addressed complaints from Latifabad traders regarding simultaneous tax collection by the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) and the Town Municipal Corporation (TMC) for the same signboards. This has caused significant inconvenience for local businesses.

The Chamber has formally contacted the Additional Chief Secretary of Local Government Sindh, Syed Khalid Hyder Shah, requesting immediate intervention to halt the harassment of traders pending a court verdict. They are also advocating for sharing tax regulations with HCSTSI to maintain transparency once the issue is resolved.

Expressing concern over ongoing harassment despite judicial review, President Memon emphasised the need for a swift resolution to relieve the burden of disputes between the municipal bodies. The Chamber calls on the Mayor, Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and other authorities to urgently address these issues and bring both municipal representatives together for dialogue.

Memon condemned the intimidation tactics employed by municipal officials and highlighted complaints from traders facing threats regarding signboard removals. He criticised the 2021 signboard fee increase as unrealistic and called for rationalising tax rates to reduce the financial strain on traders and curb corruption.

Furthermore, the Chamber demands full disclosure of contracts related to signboard holdings over the past 20 years to assess contract values and revenue realised by municipal authorities, citing collusion resulting in significant losses.

The HCSTSI is committed to advocating for fair and transparent policies that support the small trading community.