ISLAMABAD:
The President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Atif Ikram Sheikh, Regional Chairman and Vice President Zain Iftikhar Chaudhry, and other senior leaders, in a strongly worded press conference, urged Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik, and all relevant regulatory authorities to immediately revoke gas bills issued by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) to industrial and commercial consumers under retrospective gas billing. They denounced the move as a grave injustice to Pakistan’s industry and trade.
According to a statement released on Monday, they stressed that urgent action is essential to protect industry, exports, and the national economy from plunging into a severe crisis. The leaders condemned the fact that this decision was taken without prior notice or consultation, causing widespread unrest and anxiety in the business community. They warned that it not only imposes a crushing financial burden but also raises serious concerns over its legality and transparency.
Highlighting the plight of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), they cautioned that many face the risk of drastically reduced production or complete shutdowns. The business community, they declared, will not accept this action by SNGPL under any circumstances. They further stated that, in the wake of this decision, the very survival of SMEs is now at stake.
“At a time when we were advocating for a reduction in the cost of doing business to secure international orders, this measure has instead increased the financial strain – a blatant injustice,” they remarked.
The press conference was also addressed by FPCCI Vice President Zaki Aijaz, Vice President Tariq Jadoon, Patron-in-Chief of the Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Haji Nasir Mehmood, and former President of the Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rana Shehzad, reads the statement.
