Pakistan Soap Manufacturers Association chairman Usman Ahmed has urged the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Finance Minister Asad Umar to withdraw unjustifiable increase in gas tariff and hold meetings with stakeholders, representatives of PSMA and trade bodies on the issue.
He said that the 40 percent hike in gas tariff by the government is a critical issue because it has adverse impacts on industrial consumers who are utilizing gas as raw material for producing their goods. He said the rise in gas prices has destroyed the domestic industry. To him, it is surprising decision as OGRA had recommended a price of Rs 618 per MMBTU after detailed deliberations with the relevant stakeholders in June, but the government raised it to Rs 780.
"The decision to burden local industry without making any serious effort to control line losses/UFG incurred by the gas distribution companies will not bode well to the local industry which provides local employment and is the largest contributor to the national exchequer," he said.
The PSMA chairman strongly objected to the controversial decision of the government that was made without taking all sectors of the economy into confidence. He said it would create enormous inflationary pressure and make matters worse for local industries which are already struggling with a high cost of doing business.
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