PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad rejected another “record overnight and surprise” increase in prices of petroleum products and asked the government to revise the decision.
Chairing a joint meeting of industrialists and traders on Friday, Khurshid said the prime minister has announced relief package during his address to nation, but at the same time, government has constantly increasing prices of petroleum commodities, which is “incomprehensible” and “illogical”.
Read more:
Sharp surge in fuel prices threatens KP’s economic recovery
Fuel rates rise again: Petrol price surges to record Rs 137.79
National Assembly: Opposition rejects increase in petrol prices
The SCCI chief termed the increasing prices of petrol, electricity and gas tariffs as a part of IMF [International Monitory Fund] conditions. He added the government’s policies are an attempt to further push Pakistan’s “crippling” economy in a devastated situation.
He went on to say that petrol, electricity and gas are lifelines for industries, which are being used as raw material to furnish finishing products, but consistent increase in prices has also enhanced the cost of industrial production that will directly affect the common man in the shape of increased prices of essential items. Similarly, he said the “whopping” surge in petrol and diesel prices has brought further stagnation in economic growth and devastation to the country’s fragile economy.
Hasnain Khurshid noted that the businessmen are being faced with enormous difficulties owing to post-Covid scenario, especially inconsistent government’s economic policies, now the frequent increase in petrol prices have further aggravating the situation. The SCCI chief slammed an increase of Rs8.3 per litre hike in petrol and Rs8.13 per litre diesel was completely “unjust” and “unacceptable”.
Expressing grave concern over gas loadshedding since the beginning of winter, Khurshid asked the government to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to industries and commercial consumers as KP region is surplus in gas production so it has the constitutional right under article 158-A of the constitution to fully exploit its natural resources.
The SCCI president on the occasion made a demand for the announcement of a special relief package for traders’ community, which had been miserably affected by Covid-19 restrictions. He warned if the government didn’t withdraw the record hike in petroleum products, so the business community would compel in protest, which responsibility would be laid upon government and authorities concerned.