Taxes, illegal manufacturing: Bangle manufacturers assured of government support

A delegation from Hyderabad Bangles Manufacturers Association met with the Vice President Ziauddin and Former President Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (HCCI), Haji Muhammad Yaqoob at the chambers. During their meeting, the association members asked for taking necessary remedial measures to save Hyderabad bangles industry from collapse.
They said that since independence of Pakistan, the industry is providing bread and butter to several households Hyderabad is well known for its glass bangles. With the increase in taxes and utility charges, 23 glass bangles industrial units have already closed. They added that glass bangle manufacturers are already working under very difficult circumstances.
They further said that Oil and Gas Development Authority has provided gas on contract from Bakhsho Leghari and Pasaki oil field to chalk kiln. They charge rupees one million from each of the kiln a year. Chalk contractors sale gas illegally to glass bangles furnaces located into Tando Jam and Tando Mari area on cheaper rates. On the other hand, in Hyderabad, glass bangles industries pay Rs 87.5 million as advance and pay monthly gas charges of about Rs 23.11 million. In addition, Rs 3.11 million are paid by them as sales tax, they added.
Therefore, in Tando Jam and Tando Mari areas illegal manufacturing of glass bangles has become cheaper and play an important role in destabilising legal glass bangles industry in Hyderabad as they cannot compete with them. Also, illegal manufacturing of glass bangles is also depriving government from genuine taxes and causing heavy loss to Sui Southern Gas Company.
The glass bangle industrialists said that they are at the verge of closure of their industrial units, which would lead to starvation of poor people who depend for their livelihood on this industry. They urged the government to take immediate action against illegal glass bangles manufacturers of Tando Jam and Tando Mari areas by fixing gas meters at their units or they may be stopped from using illegal gas.
Vice President Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (HCCI), Ziauddin assured the representatives of glass bangles manufacturers association that they would urge the federal minister for oil and gas development, government of Pakistan to take cognisance of illegal glass bangle manufacturers of Tando Jam and Tando Mari areas and ban usage of illegal gas by these units. He said he would urge them to save Sui Southern Gas Company from further losses and save the genuine glass manufacturing industry of Hyderabad from bankruptcy. Former President HCCI and Chairman Inland Revenue Sub-Committee HCCI, Haji Muhammad Yaqoob, on the occasion, also commented that illegal use of gas in the illegal furnaces would deprive FBR from attaining revenue targets fixed for the current year.