Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Kashif Shabbir has urged the government to take measures to tackle the present energy crunch. He stated this during a meeting with a delegation of Tench Bhata traders led by Syed Asif Shah at his office here on Thursday. He said the industrial sector could not make progress without meeting of its energy requirements.
He said the shortage of electricity and gas was affecting production and use of generators has increased cost of production. "Uninterrupted power and gas supply on cheaper rates should be provided to the industrial sector, so the industry can earn revenue for national exchequer and produce more products," he added.
He further said industrial growth has negative trends, which can be improved by offering incentives to the industrial sector. "Exports refinancing ratio should be reduced to the prevailing international ratio of one to two percent so we can compete in the international market," he added.
The RCCI President said, "we can boost our foreign exchange reserves which were $14.5 billion during current fiscal year by taking every possible measure to promote the industrial sector." He said unemployment was one of the causes of the present law and order situation in the country.