Sami Ahmed Bhatti

A nationwide traders' strike led to widespread partial and complete market closures across Pakistan on Saturday, with Islamabad remaining unaffected as businesses continued to operate in the federal capital, Express News reported.

The strike, called in protest against expanded powers granted to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), divided traders into opposing camps. Major business centres in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Quetta, Peshawar, and several smaller cities observed shutdowns.
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In Karachi, markets such as Jodia Bazar, the electronics and mobile markets, the fruit and vegetable wholesale markets, and other business hubs remained closed. The All Pakistan Restaurants Association and local transport unions in Karachi also backed the strike.

Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Jawed Bilwani reaffirmed support for the strike, stating that no written assurances had been received from the government. He warned that protests would escalate if demands were not met in the upcoming talks.

In Lahore, all major commercial areas, including Shah Alam Market, Akbari Mandi, Hall Road, Mall Road, Anarkali, and others, remained shut, with support from all factions of the city's traders' unions. The Lahore Chamber of Commerce also endorsed the protest.

Traders' leader Haji Maqsood Butt declared the strike a success and warned that if the FBR continued to "harass" traders or exert "unjustified authority," further action would be taken. "We are united, and we reject forced compliance," he said.

In Hyderabad, several markets, including Anaj Mandi, Resham Bazaar, and Gul Centre, were fully closed, while others remained partially open.

Markets also remained closed in Peshawar, Quetta, and other urban centres. The traders are demanding a rollback of newly granted FBR enforcement powers and a formal, written guarantee of policy revisions.

The important question is for Crypto Currency Holders in Country.
What's the future of crypto in Pakistan??
Share you knowledge and experience---

The ongoing conflict between the government and Imran Khan could have the following potential effects on Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies:

1. Instability and Investor Confidence
- Political instability negatively impacts the national economy, affecting traditional financial markets (such as the stock market or the value of the rupee). In such situations, some investors may see digital assets like *Bitcoin* as a "safe haven" and invest in them.
- However, if the conflict escalates, investor confidence may decline, leading to volatility in the crypto market.

2. Currency Value and Demand for Crypto
- If the political crisis weakens the rupee or increases inflation, people may turn to *Bitcoin or stablecoins like Tether (USDT)* to preserve their purchasing power.
- Despite unclear cryptocurrency regulations in Pakistan, demand for dollars or Bitcoin may rise in informal markets.

3. Government Restrictions or Regulations
- If the government imposes capital controls to address the financial crisis (such as restrictions on foreign currency transfers), people may see cryptocurrencies as an alternative.
- On the other hand, the government may crack down on crypto transactions, as seen in past attempts to freeze bank accounts or restrict P2P trading.

4. International Response
- If the political crisis leads to international sanctions on Pakistan or suspends economic aid, dollar shortages may occur, increasing informal Bitcoin trading.

5. Technology and Infrastructure Impact
- If protests or instability disrupt internet services (as seen with past social media bans), crypto transactions could slow down.
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Basic Point:
- Positive Effects: Demand for Bitcoin may rise during a political crisis if people see it as safer than the rupee.
- Negative Effects: If the government bans crypto or panic spreads in the market, prices could drop.
- Uncertainty: Since the crypto market is already volatile, political events could add further fluctuations.
If you're involved in crypto in Pakistan, it's crucial to closely monitor government policies and international reactions.

Operation Deep Hunt: Binance Helps Brazil Police Dismantle $30M Cybercrime Network
Main Takeaways
Binance assisted Brazil’s Civil Police in an 18-month investigation that disrupted R$164 million ($30 million) money laundering operation tied to the dark web.Our Special Investigations team helped identify suspicious crypto activity and connect it to real-world criminal actors.This successful operation underscores the importance of strong partnerships in safeguarding the crypto ecosystem.

Brazilian law enforcement has taken down a sophisticated cybercrime group responsible for laundering over R$164 million (approx. $30 million), with critical investigative support from Binance. Operation Deep Hunt, led by the Civil Police of Goiás State, targeted a network that trafficked stolen banking data and forged documents on the dark web, using digital assets to mask the origins of illicit funds.

Over an 18-month investigation, Binance worked closely with Brazil’s State Cybercrime Repression Police Department (DERCC), Signals Intelligence Management, and the Anti-Money Laundering Technology Lab to trace suspicious crypto transactions. The result: a coordinated crackdown that led to 41 arrests and the seizure of criminal infrastructure across eight cities.
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Shedding Light on Dark Web Activity
The dismantled network had deep ties to illegal dark web marketplaces, where banking credentials, cloned credit cards, and falsified IDs were openly traded. The group funneled illicit proceeds through a complex laundering system involving anonymization techniques, fragmented transfers, and front accounts designed to obscure the money trail.

Binance’s Special Investigations team played a vital role in surfacing and analyzing crypto transactions connected to the scheme. Our intelligence helped connect dark web activity to real-world entities, bridging the information gap between on-chain data and off-chain enforcement.

“Binance’s support was essential to the success of this case,” said Police Chief Bárbara Buttini, who led the operation. Her colleague, Chief Vytautas Zumas, added: “The collaboration with Binance brought a new level of effectiveness to our investigation.”

Strengthening Trust Through Responsible Action
On July 10, more than 180 officers executed 41 arrest warrants and 43 search and seizure orders across Goiás, the Federal District, and Rio de Janeiro. Authorities seized forged documents, card machines, drugs, weapons, and other criminal tools used by the organization.

At Binance, we believe that protecting users and preserving trust in the crypto ecosystem means taking an active role in preventing misuse. “We’re proud to support Brazilian law enforcement in fighting the criminal use of digital assets,” said Guilherme Nazar, Binance’s Head of Latin America. “Cases like this are a reminder that crypto adoption must go hand-in-hand with strong compliance, user protection, and proactive enforcement.”

Our involvement in Operation Deep Hunt reflects our broader approach: proactively assisting authorities with real-time intelligence and analytics support, working collaboratively toward our shared goal of securing the digital future.

Final Thoughts
Operation Deep Hunt is an example of how effective cooperation between private platforms and law enforcement can stop bad actors and disrupt illicit networks. This hands-on approach is part of Binance’s wider effort to raise security standards across the industry.

Over the past eight years, we’ve responded to more than 240,000 law enforcement requests and conducted over 400 training sessions for investigative agencies worldwide. These efforts help authorities recover stolen assets, dismantle criminal infrastructure, and apply blockchain’s transparency in the service of justice. We will continue to invest in partnerships that make the ecosystem safer for everyone.