ISLAMABAD: A delegation of General Nanby Association, Islamabad led by its President Fazal Karim Abbasi visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and held a meeting with Ahmed Hassan Moughal, President on the issue of non-implementation of government’s decision regarding withdrawal of increased gas tariff for tandoors.
They said that Chamber should take up this issue with relevant authorities for its early resolution. Pervaiz Senior Vice President, Sardar Altaf Hussain General Secretary, Muhammad Fiaz Finance Secretary, Sardar Saeed Khan, Sardar Mazhar Hussain, Wali ur Rehman Abbasi, Qari Afzaal and Muhammad Zubair were in the delegation. Iftikhar Anwar Sethi Vice President ICCI, Khalid Chaudhry, Zia Chaudhry and others were also present at the occasion.
Addressing the delegation, Ahmed Hassan Moughal said that government should take measures to ensure the implementation of its decision regarding withdrawal of increased gas tariff for Tandoors as its non-implementation was badly affecting the business of this sector.
He said that government in September 2018 had increased gas tariff according to which gas sale price for commercial consumers including Tandoors was raised from Rs.700 MMBTU to Rs.980 MMBTU showing an increase of 40 percent in one go. He said that Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet in its meeting held in November 2018 under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Asad Umar had decided to withdraw the increase in gas prices for Tandoors and allow them to pay their gas bills on the previously applicable rates so that price of Roti/Naan may not go up. However, he said that the ECC decision was not implemented as yet due to which Tandoors were receiving gas bills @ Rs.980 MBBTU, which was unjustifiable.
Ahmed Hassan Moughal said that increased gas tariff for Tandoors was badly affecting their business and if this trend continued, many Tandoors could close down creating more unemployment in the country. He urged that government should issue instructions to SNGPL to send gas bills on old price to tandoors to save them from further troubles.
Rafat Farid Senior Vice President and Iftikhar Anwar Sethi Vice President ICCI said that labor class and common men were purchasing Roti and Naan from Tandoors, but increased gas tariff would enhance price of Roti/Naan increasing difficulties of the common man. They stressed that government should pay urgent attention to this issue to save businesses and people from further problems.
