Businessmen of South Punjab slam gas policy

Industrialists and traders of South Punjab have criticised the government's plan of cutting off the supply of natural gas to industrial sector during winter season. They also deplored the government's move of promulgating an ordinance for the collection of Rs100 billion under the head of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC). 

Terming such measures `anti-people', Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry's (MCCI) President Khawaja Muhammad Usman said that the government by doing so would further add to the miseries of general public and the business community. 

Maintaining that the recent hike in gas tariff had already dealt a blow to the already fragile economy of the country, he took a serious notice of the adverse impact of the decision on cost of manufacturing. 

Apprehending that prices of essential commodities will shoot up further in the wake increased gas price, he said common man and business community will be burdened further if the government opted to recover GDIC of Rs100 billion as announced by the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Khaqan Abbasi. 

Accusing the government of ignoring the interest of poor people, he said that government's plan to further increase the gas prices and recover GDIC will put an extra financial burden on the people and the business community as they are already facing hardships due to sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities. 

"The increase in gas tariff and levy of GIDC will jolt the country's economy by increasing the cost of production in both agriculture and industrial sectors," he added. 
Curtsey: Business  Recorder ,September 29, 2014