The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has demanded of the government to cut gas tariff immediately, instead of putting off its decision in this regard till July, as existing high rates of gas has already multiplied the miseries of the business community.
In a communication received here on Thursday, PIAF Vice Chairman Khawaja Shahzeb Akram said that ongoing economic crisis has adversely affected business community and they are fighting for their survival therefore Oil and gas regulatory authority (Ogra) should immediately announce 20 per cent cut at gas prices.
Criticising the dual standard of Orga he said that Ogra follows the dual standards as when the oil prices go up, the Ogra links the gas prices to the oil, while its (oil) prices have registered a sharp decline in international market, the authority is reluctant to cut the prices of gas.
The PIAF leader also criticised the SNGPL for failing to stop gas theft to tune of Rs 3.5 billion and urged them to evolve a solid and fool proof mechanism to control malpractice, as the cost of this theft is paid by the general consumers.
Khawaja Shahzeb Akram said that Pakistani merchandise is the fast becoming incompetitive owing to high input prices and gas is one of the major raw materials for a number of industries and if the prices were curtailed immediately, it would help Pakistan gain economically. Meanwhile, Vice Chairman, PIAF appealed to the Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, to look into Ogra affairs and direct them to bring down the gas prices with immediate effect in the larger interests of the country.
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