ISLAMABAD: The local industrialists during a meeting held at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry strongly protested against the passage of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) Bill from parliament and called upon the government to withdraw it as it will increase the cost of doing business, make export sector nonviable in the global market and will cause closure of a large number of industrial units in the country, rendering thousands of workers jobless.
Chairing the meeting, Muzzamil Hussain Sabri, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that businessmen have been expressing great concerns against GIDC ever since its introduction through GIDC Act in 2011 while the top court of the country had also termed it illegal and had ordered for refund of amount collected on account of GIDC to the consumers. But it was highly unfortunate that government totally ignored the concerns of business community against this levy and go ahead according to its plan to give legal cover to this controversial tax.
