ICCI warns against further raising power and gas tariffs

Govt has already increased prices of petroleum and pushed up inflation

ISLAMABAD: Traders in the federal capital have urged the government to ensure that a sufficient quantity of quality food items is available at the four subsidized Ramazan Bazaars set up in the federal capital.

This was stated by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Ahmed Hassan Moughal on Thursday.

In a statement, he said that people were reportedly facing a shortage of essential food items or poor quality items were being offered in these markets.

This, he said, would negate the purpose of establishing these subsidized bazaars.

He added that people were facing high inflation and in these conditions, subsidized Ramazan Bazaars could provide much-needed relief to the common man, therefore the government should make sure that all necessary items were available in sufficient quantity for shoppers in these markets.

ICCI Senior Vice President Rafat Farid and ICCI Vice President Iftikhar Anwar Sethi warned that the government plans to further raise power and gas tariffs in light of the conditions which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to slap Pakistan with. He added that this will have an adverse effect on the business community and the general public.

They said that the government has already increased prices of petroleum products which has significantly enhanced the cost of doing business and pushed up inflation.

In these circumstances, further increasing power and gas tariff will prove harmful for the business sector as well as the common man.

They urged that government to avoid making any further increase in power tariffs and try to create conducive conditions for business and industry so that business activities could grow smoothly that would help in early recovery of economy.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2019.