President of Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and industry, Yakoob Karim, has said that the new government too is running the county on the same lines which previous regimes adopted and brought the economy on the verge of collapse.
He recalled that PTI leadership had too much trumpeted the slogan of change and assured people of sea change in policies to provide relief to the industry and the masses but he lamented that PTI government, it seems, has not yet began that journey.
Lasbela CCI president expressed serious concerns over ever soaring prices of utilities and other industrial inputs due to which industrial sector, export-oriented manufacturing units in particular, are suffering badly.
"Most of the decisions taken so far regarding economy seemed as a self-defeat of the new government and against the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan," he said, citing that the price hike of gas and electricity negated his commitments. He endorsed views of trade bodies and apex chamber that prime minister had been assuring them of ease of doing business for promoting industrialisation in the country but he took no step so far in that direction. "Two percent (2%) hike in per unit price of electricity and a steep rise in gas tariff will increase the production cost and, as a result, Pakistani products will not be able to compete on the world markets," he alerted.
Yakoob Karim said that exporters too are much concerned over the unfavourable stance towards economy. He said that Pakistani products are already uncompetitive in the world market and this fresh hike in fuel prices would prove to be the last straw on the camel's back. He further said manufacturing and export-oriented industries would become main victims of this decision as they have to compete with products of regional countries in the international market.
He reminded of the commitment made by the Finance Minister, Asad Umar who claimed that "POL prices will be brought down to about Rs45 per litre soon after he takes over but as a matter of fact he just made a gimmick to the nation."