Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) President, Mian Anjum Nisar, has expressed his grave concern over 5.6 percent hike in gas tariff for industrial consumers and 10 percent hike for fertiliser factories.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said that China and India had already established their monopoly on our markets due to their products being cheaper causing severe problems to our industry.
In such a situation, hike in the prices of gas, which was a raw material for our industry would multiply the hardships of industrialists. He said that textile that was the biggest industrial sector of Pakistan would also face severe hardships, as they were already getting power from gas fuelled generators but increase in gas charges would raise their cost of production. It would also leave negative impact on our exports. He said that our economy largely rely on agriculture.
Increase in prices of gas for fertiliser manufacturing units would also negatively impact our agricultural sector. Incentives given in recently announced budget would also loose their impact due to increase in gas prices, he claimed.
He alleged that whole world was preparing their industries to face the competition in post WTO and post-Safta regime but our government was doing contrary to it making it impossible for our local industry to fight for its survival.
He was of the view that such decisions would also discourage the foreign investment. He appealed to the government to review this decision and issue orders not to implement this increase.
Mian Anjum Nisar hailed the decision of the PTCL regarding cut in charges for telephone installation and international telephone call rates. He hoped that this move would provide a relief to the PTCL customers, as now it had become necessity for every home and organisation. He was of the view that other utility providing institutions should also follow the suit of PTCL.