ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) on Thursday said Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) was an oppressive, illegal and unconstitutional tax which should be abolished immediately.
The Supreme Court has already declared GIDC as illegal, not consistent with the constitutional and against the basic rights, said Pervaiz Khan Khattak, Central Chairman APCNGA.
In a statement, he said that following suo motu action of the court, the government enforced GIDC through a controversial ordinance.
Khattak said that now many superior courts have suspended the ordinance, but the government was hell-bent on enforcing it.
“Troubled CNG sector is struggling hard to remain afloat making it impossible to pay the oppressive and tyrannical tax under the current set of circumstances,” he added.
Khattak said the government was bound to safeguard the interests of the business community under Clause 8 and 18 of the constitution therefore it must abolish the frequently disputed tax forthwith.
He said usually the burden of new or additional tax was transferred to consumers but the government has been trying to put the GIDC burden on CNG operators.
