SCCI decries federal govt policy on gas & electricity

PESHAWAR: Flaying the federal government policy on gas and power in KP, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Friday urged bureaucracy to consult businessmen representatives and stakeholders before evolving economic policies and reforming the taxation system.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be given due share in gas and electricity under the Constitution,” said SCCI President Faud Ishaq while speaking to participants of the 38th Mid-Career Management Course (NIM) Islamabad here.

The NIM’s Seemi A Khan headed the delegation of the participants.“The dilemma is that despite unavailability of gas, the gas tariff has been increased exorbitantly, which is an attempt to push the war-hit KP industries toward destruction”, he added.

He said KP had the first right to use its natural resources under Article 158-A of the Constitution of the country but for the last 13 years. “No new gas connection was given to industries in the province during this time while contrary to that new gas connections were given to industries in Punjab. On the other hand gas consumption in Punjab is higher against its production,” pointed out the SCCI chief.

Similarly, he said, production of gas in KP was in surplus but gas wasn’t available there, even consumers were being charged exorbitant rates.Therefore, he urged the government to ensure new gas connections to industries in KP, which is a constitutional right of this province.

He said industries in KP had suffered adversely owing to unavailability of gas and electricity.To a question about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Fuad Ishaq said it was a guarantee for economic prosperity and development of Pakistan and the entire region.

He urged the government to provide equal facilities and incentives for foreign and local investors to fully reap the benefits of the CPEC and make the dream of economic prosperity come true.

To another question about regional trade, the SCCI chief said bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and Afghanistan had dropped from $2.5billion to $800million while illegal trade was going, calling for correction of policies to promote legal trade.

Fuad Ishaq called for signing free trade agreements with Afghanistan, Iran and China along

with allowing trade in Pakistan rupees with these countries so that the national economy couldbe stabilized and trade volume improved.