Mandatory PAN: Jewellers observe one-day strike

Over 300 jewellery trader associations across the country on Wednesday went on a day-long strike to protest against the government’s move that makes PAN card mandatory for transactions worth Rs 2 lakh and above. “This is a crisis situation for the entire industry to survive as jewellers are losing customers mainly in small towns and rural areas, where a majority of population doesn’t have PAN cards. Our members and many of the jewellery associations have suffered losses in the last one month.” All India Gems and Jewellery Federation (GJF) Director Ashok Minawala told reporters here.