KARACHI: Vice President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Sheikh Sultan Rehman has strongly criticised government's decision to sharply increase petroleum prices in the country, uncalled-for Show Cause Notices by FBR and severe load-shedding.
He recalled that Mian Anjum Nisar, President FPCCI has consistently demanded measures for ease of doing business and creating business-friendly environment, especially in these challenging times when economy of our beloved country has been badly damaged by the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
He said this after attending a hurriedly-called meeting attended by Zakaria Usman, former President FPCCI, Shaukat Ahmed, former Senior Vice President FPCCI, Khurram Sayeed, Former Vice President FPCCI, Amjad Rafi, and Mian Nasir Hyatt Magoo, former Presidents KCCI, Haji Ghani Usman, Shahid Anwal, Asim Ghani Usman, Qamar Anwal and other prominent business leaders via video link from upcountry including, Vice Presidents Qaisar Khan and Abdul Qayoom Qureshi, Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, Mirza Abdul Rehman, Mehmood Ahmed, Qamar Zaman Gill, Zahid Anwar and Sheikh Aslam.
The participants said that Pakistan is facing worst-ever crisis resulting from Covid-19 pandemic whose devastating effects have started to be felt now. This crisis has crippled innumerable businesses.
Contrary to our demand to reduce the prices of petrol, gas and electricity, the government has sharply increased petroleum prices. To increase petroleum prices as high as by 33 percent at this time is like dropping a petrol bomb on the sinking economy. This would unleash a new wave of inflation in the country resulting in serious law and order situation in the near future and warned that no government will be able to control such a catastrophic situation.
They also criticised uncalled-for Show Cause Notices by FBR to business community threatening to suspend Sales Tax Registration for declaring low sales during the last three months. The participants said the situation of lockdown, closures of businesses and current position of the deteriorating economy is known to everyone in the country. It is shocking that these facts are somehow hidden from the FBR. The Show Cause Notices are nothing but harassment and intimidation by FBR at a time when businesses are struggling for their very survival.
They also expressed their strong displeasure at severe load shedding by K-E in the wake of harsh weather conditions when thousands of Covid-19 patients are struggling for life at hospitals and homes. Factories have just started production and cannot sustain operation in light of unannounced, long load shedding.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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