He said that SSGC has found a new way to "harass" industrialists despite the severe economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus epidemic by issuing notices to export-oriented industries asking them to obtain certificate from Commissioner-Inland Revenue and provide before July 20, 2020 for the validation of zero-rating status to avail reduced gas tariff.

"In notices to the registered manufacturers and exporters of 5 zero rated sectors [textile, carpet, sports and surgical equipment], SSGC threatened that if the certificate was not submitted within the stipulated time, otherwise SSGC will revise gas tariff and apply normal tariff i.e., Rs 1,021/- per MMBTU," he claimed.

He said that due to coronavirus epidemic, industries have already been shut down, exporters and industrialists are facing a severe financial crisis. Instead of helping in this difficult time, it has started "harassing" the industrialists, he added.

Patron-in-chief NKATI, Capt A Moiz Khan, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was taking steps to provide facilities to exporters, especially to the 5 zero-rated sectors in the troubled economy, for which the industrial community is grateful.

"They said that while zero-rated industries already notified in SSGC then why industrialists need certificate from the FBR.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020