The Joint Action Committee of the Faisalabad Trade & Industry has unanimously decided to observe a "Complete traffic jam strike" in Faisalabad on February 10, against the government for acceptance of their demands, including the supply of electricity to industrial sector at 7.5 percent, immediate restoration of zero-rated facility, payment of pending refund claims of exporters, withdrawal of mandatory provision of CNIC production on every purchase in addition to enhancing annual turnover slab for traders from Rs 10 to Rs 100 crore due to the depreciation of Pak rupee.
Addressing a joint news conference immediately after a protest camp in Chowk Clock Tower here this afternoon, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Rana Sikandar-e-Azam, lamented that the PTI Government has taken a U-turn from its commitment announced in its manifesto. He said that PTI had categorically assured that its government would slashed down the prices of electricity, gas and petroleum products in addition to reigning in soaring prices of eatables and other essential goods. "But no tangible step has, so far, been taken by this government to give much trumpeted relief to the trade and industry", he said and added that it has bitterly failed to provide 10 Million jobs and cheap houses to the poor segments of the society.
He said that instead of providing some reasonable relief to the exporters, their capital has been stuck-up with government on account of sales tax and no relief was being given to them.
The FCCI President said that as declared by chairman of the Joint Action Committee, Mian Naeem Ahmad a 30-member Committee will start negotiations with the government for the redressal of their problems.
He said that we would not now allow anybody to hijack our legitimate struggle as all sectors including trade, industry, grain and yarn/cloth markets have already announced their unflinching support to the common cause of the business community.
The FCCI president further told the media that prior to coming on roads, the traders and industrialists of Faisalabad would hold a big "Protest meeting " at Chowk Clock Tower here on February 8. In this meeting they would announce their "Charter of demands" and strategy to vigorously pursue their demands.
Chairman, Joint Action Committee, Mian Naeem Ahmad, told the newsmen that over 50 percent industry in Faisalabad and other parts of the country has already been closed down due to hike in electricity and gas prices while the remaining was partially operating and the time was not far off when the remaining Units would also come to a grinding halt.
He said that the government should pay immediate attention to this alarming situation and give adequate relief to the industrial sector. He warned the closure of industrial units will inflict a colossal loss to national economy in addition to opening the flood gates of unemployment.
This meeting was represented by 150 trade and industrial organizations of the Faisalabad city.
Meanwhile, chairman All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA), Muhammad Pervez Lala, has expressed grave concern over the decision of withdrawal of subsidy on power tariff and enhancement in the price of electricity, and apprehended that this action would cast devastating repercussions on industrial production and export trade, and give a set back to export-oriented industries.
Elaborating, APTPMA chief referred to a news item appearing in a section of the national press wherein it was reported that subsidy on power tariff given to export industry has been withdrawn by the Power Division without approval of the Cabinet.
He said it was committed and notified by the govt in January 2019 that subsidies would be given to the five export-oriented industries/sectors with the assurance that the cost of electricity will not exceed 7.5 cent/kWh to secure its competitive edge in international market.
In view of these apprehensions, APTPMA chief pointed out that if the prices of electricity are revised upward, at this critical juncture, more than 400 textile processing units operative in Pakistan would be constrained to reduce their production or close down the units, which would throw thousands of wage-earners out of jobs and deprive the national exchequer of forex and revenue to the tune of billions of rupees. He therefore fervently appealed to the Prime Minister Imran Khan to review the decision from any further increase in electricity prices and fulfil your commitment of regionally competitive electricity tariff of 7.5 cents/kWh all-inclusive for the export oriented textile industry to compete the international market and protect the value-added and export-oriented sector of textile processing from imminent danger of reduction in their capacity and national export drive.
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