Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has demanded of the government to immediately withdraw 5-percent import duty on coal so that the power projects being run on coal could be saved. The FPCCI Vice President Ch Arfan Yousaf and former President Mian Muhammad Adrees raised this demand while talking to a delegation here today. The coal import price has been increased from US $90 to $103 per ton during last nine month whereas local currency registered over 10 percent depreciation against the greenback, they said.
As a result, the coal-based power generation is no more economically viable, they added. They were of the view that the because of the Pak rupee depreciation and rising coal prices in the international market, the local industry has no choice except to again shift on the national grid which would cause additional burden on the power distribution companies.
They urged the government to immediately review the issue relation to regulatory duty on coal import failing which the power generation units would be forced to close their operation.
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