SCCI voices concern over increase in gas prices for industries

PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq expressed concern over increase in gas prices for the industries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including textiles to Rs3176 per mmbtu under the blended gas policy.

By imposing 80 per cent natural gas and 20 per percent RLNG rate on KP, he demanded to withdraw 18 per cent sales tax on industrial sector as the province is surplus gas production, 

Speaking at a joint press conference here president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fuad Ishaq and Chairman, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textile Mills Association Kamran Shah here at the chamber house on Monday said it is completely just to impose excessive gas prices on K-P wherein gas production is surplus which was also sheer violation of the article 158 of the constitution of the country. 

Members of the business community said 50 percent industries in KP have shut after imposition of the blended gas policy in KP and RLNG rate, making not only running businesses and industries difficult but impossible in the province.  

In response to various queries of the reporters, Fuad Ishaq said that the total gas production of KP is 550mmcfds against its consumption 200mmcfds, and imposition of the blended gas policy on this province is highly alarming.  

Not a single industrial gas connection was given to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 13 years, contrary to that industrial gas connections were provided in Punjab, which was tantamount of discriminatory attitude, Fuad Ishaq added. 

During the presser, Senior leader of the businessman forum, former senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, the SCCI senior vice president Sanaullah Khan, vice president Ijaz Khan Afridi, former presidents Riaz Arshad, Malik Niaz Ahmad, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, executive member Affaf Ali Khan, former chairman KPTMA Afan Aziz, KPTMA vice chairman Sikandar Kuli Khan Khattak, businessmen attached with textile sector include Irfan Moten, Ashaf Ahmad, Engr Ihsanulllah, Muhammad Shoaib, Engr Matiullah, Muhammad Ayub, Arifullah, Muhammad Safdar Khan, former vice president Abidullah Yousafzai, and Saddar Gul, Faiz Rasool, Fazl e Wahid, Ishtiaq Muhammad and others present. 

The businessmen said imposition of the blended gas policy with a ratio of 80/20 was completely unjust and against the constitution of the country.   

The KPTMA chairman said the textile industry is the backbone for the country’s economy. He informed that out of 15 textile units, seven have almost shut in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the prevailing scenario while rest of industrial units were run with capacity of 50 per cent.

Furthermore, he informed textile industries consumed only 10mmfcds gas wherein the gas is surplus quantity and consumption less despite that discriminatory attitude is being carried out by KP industries, which is highly deplorable. 

Former president of the KPTMA, Afan Aziz, said that after increasing the prices and supplying gas at RLNG rates, the prices have now been doubled under the blended gas policy, which is a complete injustice with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

He said that efforts are being made to deprive the province affected by terrorism of constitutional rights which is very worrying and this discrimination should be stopped immediately.

Ilyas Bilour in response to a question of reporters said it is not the duty of the business community to fight with the government but we would try to raise issues of the community before it and resolve them with mutual consensus and table talks. 

He demanded of the government to ensure due constitutional rights to KP. He added Punjab is also our brother but there should be take care of the rights of smaller provinces. 

Fuad Ishaq to a question regarding any future line of action or protest, replied that the business community believes in unity, tolerance and harmony and would always try to resolve issues by negotiation with government and relevant authorities. 

He, however, urged the government to review the massive gas price hike and revise its decision in the best interest of industries and the economy of the country.