The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to declare import of all types of power generators, their parts and solar energy panels zero-rated for the sake of economy of the country.
LCCI President Mohammad Ali Mian, in a statement here on Wednesday, anticipated a severe power shortage in the months due to non-availability of enough water for hydel generation.
He said that the duty on power generators above five KVA, their accessories and solar panels be curtailed to zero from existing 20 per cent so the industrialists could keep their industrial units functional. He said if these short-term measures were not taken immediately, the situation would get out of hand and we would not be able to meet the export target.
The energy crisis was also hitting the overall economy in a big way as the industrial sector was under immense pressure, he added. Besides, the industrialists were facing difficulties in payment of bank borrowings and mark-ups.
Moreover, hundreds of industrial units had so far been closed, rendering, as much number of industrial workers jobless so there was dire need that emergency steps should be taken to avert the situation, he said.
He was of the view that the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) would have to reset its priorities as the protection of domestic consumer lay in smooth running of the industry and if the industry of the country would be facing closure threat, the government would not be able to maintain growth rate. He said that reduced but planned power supply would salvage some of the production.