Industrialists demand withdrawal of raise in gas, power tariffs

PESHAWAR: Industrialists have termed the recent increase in gas and electricity tariffs, including collection of fixed charges, as unfair and urged the government to withdraw the decision.

The manufacturers said that the property tax exemption should be extended till the formation of the next government while keeping in view the current economic, business and industrial slowed down.

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, a delegation of industrialists headed by the president of the Industrialists Association Peshawar, Ayub Zakuri, met Governor Ghulam Ali. The delegation explained in detail the concerns of the factory owners over these above-mentioned issues.

Riaz Arshad, Malik Niaz Ahmed, Muqtasid Ahsan, Farhad Asfandyar, Junaid Altaf, Wasiullah, Faisal Shah and others were part of the delegation.Ayub Zakori said that KP had the first right to utilize its gas, electricity and other natural resources under Article 158-A of the constitution of the country.

But, he said, gas and electricity were provided to people and business community of KP at exorbitant rates, besides electricity fixed charges were also collected from them, which, he said, was contrary to the above mentioned article of the Constitution.

He urged the government to withdraw the recent massive increase in gas and electricity prices immediately so that businesses and industries in the province could flourish.Junaid Altaf raised the issue faced by local pharmaceutical industries in getting registration from the Afghan government for exports of medicine to Afghanistan.The governor assured that efforts would be made for the resolution of the problems of the business community and industrialists.