The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has decided to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani soon and present a set of proposals to bring down oil, gas and power tariffs and to resolve other problems being faced by the business community.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the chamber held on Thursday to discuss issues related to oil, gas and power tariffs. Speaking at the meeting, former President KCCI and leader of BMG, Siraj Kassim Teli said that the chamber will prepare proposals having details of how government can reduce oil, gas prices and power tariffs for the consideration of Prime Minister and his approval.
He said that prior to meeting with Prime Minister the chamber will hold another meeting on next Thursday July 31 with representatives of industries and discuss issues related to gas, power tariffs and oil prices and other issues.
Teli said that if the matter remains unresolved after meeting with Prime Minister than the chamber would call a general body meeting and invite other chambers of the country to discuss the issue and decide future line of action.
He said that the country was passing through very serious political and economic crises and it can not afford politics of confrontation and strikes. Foreign buyers are also reluctant to place order with Pakistan exporters due to law and order situation in the country.
He said that KCCI had decided to hold a meeting with finance minister Naveed Qamar. Following decision two meetings were held with the finance minister and apprised him about the situation. The finance minister agreed to consider reducing gas tariff. However no action was taken so for.
Criticising government, he said that the government has made no attempt to interact with Karachi chamber as well as other chambers in the country to discuss issues and get them resolved. Taking part in discussion, Rafiq Jadoon said that chamber should give a call for strike in consultation with other chambers to pressurise the government to reduce gas, power tariffs and oil prices. Siddiq Memon, Abdul Samad Khan, Javaid Shaikh and Abdul Wahid also spoke on the occasion.