LAHORE: The government should immediately remove all taxes on import of LPG being imported via land route and if the demand is not accepted, LPG traders across the country will go on strike from June 30.
These views were expressed by Chairman LPG Industries Association Irfan Khokhar at a press conference at a local hotel while local office bearers including Alliance Energy CEO Ilyas Balouch, LPG Industries Association of Pakistan Vice Chairman Shah Nawaz Saeed President LPG Companies Importers Association of Pakistan Sheikh Amir Nadeem CEO M-TEK Abbas, GM BBN Energy Shahid Jabbar GM Wak Gas Attique Khan Director Yaseen LPG Fahad Imran Basra and Director Yadgar LPG Saeed Khan from all provinces were also present on the occasion.
Irfan Khokhar said that in LPG policy 2021, taxes on LPG imported via land should immediately be abolished, as there is a lot of tax on the import of LPG which is irrational.
Khokhar said that taxing the land route LPG import would be detrimental to the people of Balochistan while 70% of LPG is being imported while 30% is being produced locally.
Chairman LPG Irfan Khokhar said that the government is given a deadline of June 30. If the taxes are not removed there will be a nationwide strike from June 30, he highlighted, adding that 5.5 advance income tax should be imposed on LPG being imported by sea.
Ilyas Baloch said that preparations were being made to impose tax in the next budget on LPG imported via land and some people were misguiding the higher authorities.
He said that the Prime Minister had said that 72% of LPG was being used but the tax on LPG was higher than that of all other gases.
In response to a question, Amir Nadeem said: billions of rupees are being subsidized for LNG imports.
Therefore, like LNG, all taxes on LPG should be abolished, he demanded adding texas will make LPG scarce, and prices will rise.
LPG produced locally should be distributed equally among all companies without signature bonus, he concluded.
