Business community has termed the levy of Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) on industrial and commercial units in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as illegal and unjustified step and announced to move the court against the decision.
The industrial growth is already dwindled due to prolonged war against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the government policy would further trigger de-industrialization in the province, Zahidullah Shinwari, president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) told a news conference here on Wednesday while referring about the RLNG recently imposed on industries and commercial consumers in the province.
Flanked by eminent industrialist and PTI central leader, Senator Nauman Wazir, president of Industrial Estate Association Hayatabad, industrialists, and traders, Shinwari said the KP has been producing 340 mmcfd (million cubic feed) gas, which is 12 percent of the country's total gas production, while its demand is between 170-200 mmcfd, but the remaining gas has diverted to Punjab, adding that it is quite unfair to impose RLNG on the province, wherein gas production is surplus, but the move also open violation of Article 158 of the constitution. He said the additional burden of RLNG on terrorism-affected business community was tantamount to economic murder of this province.
The SCCI chief that industries were facing a crisis-like situation due to lacunas in different government policies, lack of interest of relevant departments and because of unfriendly behavior. Whereas in the prevailing scenario, he continued, overburdening of industries in a province which is already self-sufficient in gas production was conspiracy for economic decline of the region.
"We have left no other option but to move the court against the RLNG. We would also take leadership of various political parties into confidence over the issue, which had agreed on a draft of 'Charter of Economy' during last month All Parties Conference, hosted by the SCCI." He vowed that they would never compromise on rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and will not allow further de-industrialization in the province.
The SCCI chief while touching upon on other pressing issues, being faced by businessmen in the province expressed serious concerns over the Peshawar Electric Supply Company indifferent attitude towards the resolution of issues of the community. He said the constant tripping, low voltage, as well as non-provision of new electricity connections to industrial units have slowed down industrial productivity and growth in the province. He demanded of the government to appoint person as CEO Pesco, which would retain friendly attitude with business community.
Shinwari voiced concern over depleting role and performance of flagship organizations, meant for economic growth and attracting investments in various sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa like KPBOIT, KPEZMDC, PEDO, KPOGCL, TEVTA, called them as biggest hurdle in way of industrialization and economic development in the province.
The chamber president while commenting on new Afghan Transit Trade Agreement said that the promotion of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan is directly linked with new ATTA.
He said that due to some reservations on ATTA, the mutual trade and economic relations has hampered between Pakistan and Afghanistan that ultimately plunged the bilateral trade volume from $ 1billion to $500 million. He urged both Islamabad and Kabul to initiate talks to immediate remove all kinds of impediments in way of ATTA and to give boost to bilateral trade and economic relations between the two neighbouring countries.
Talking about the amnesty scheme recently announced by federal government ahead of general elections, Shinwari said the SCCI had accepted conditionally the economic reform package, saying that the scheme was an attempt to turn black money into white.
However, he emphasized that the government should take effective measures for broadening the existing tax-base and lure maximum investments to create more job opportunities in the country. On the occasion, he mentioned about business community owes due to ongoing Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) project in provincial capital. He viewed the scheme was launched in haste by the provincial government and didn't take business community on board in this regard, due to which traders community had inflicted huge business and financial losses on daily basis.
He suggested that the provincial government should waive off different taxes/cess collected to give some sort of relief to traders. He also sought the government support for stopping de-industrialization in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.