Beverage industry of Pakistan has started feeling pinch of prevailing recession in the country and during 2008-09 the industry may have negative growth. During last three years, beverage industry was growing at the rate of 20 to 22 percent per annum. However, in 2008 its growth was only three percent owing to recession in the market and fast declining of purchasing power of general public.
Leader of Businessmen Group and former President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Siraj Kassam Teli said on Tuesday that general public in Pakistan prefer soda water and carbonated drinks and added that around 26 crore cartons of 24 bottles or cane were sold during 2008.
He said that beverage industry is paying around Rs 20 billion in taxes annually Replying to a question, he said that during his recent visit to Islamabad along with a delegation he had discussed issues of gas, power, oil prices and high cost of doing business with President Asif Ali Zardari. He said that the president has assured that the government is taking care of their problems and trying to resolve them on priority basis.