Pakistan Industrial & Traders Associations Front (Piaf) has declared that any increase in electricity tariff would be considered as mini budget and further increase in utility bills would dilute positive impact of few incentives given to industry in the budget for the year 2005-06. The Piaf acting chairman Mubashar Sheikh said this in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
He expressed displeasure over the reports of proposed 40-paisa increase in the electricity prices by July 15. He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has taken an industry and public friendly decision by rejecting such proposed increase last month. He called upon the Prime Minister to reject the proposed increase in electricity prices in the larger public interest as well as national industry.
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Executive Committee member Mian Shafqat Ali also termed the proposed increase in electricity prices as harmful for the industry. He called upon the Wapda officials to reduce line losses and improve recovery in order to make their revenue position better.