ICCI urges government to implement old gas tariff for Tandoors

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of General Nanby Association, Islamabad led by its President Fazal Karim Abbasi visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) here on Wednesday.

The delegation held a meeting with Ahmed Hassan Moughal, President ICCI on the issue of non-implementation of government’s decision regarding withdrawal of increased gas tariff for Tandoors.

They said Chamber should take up this issue with relevant authorities for its early resolution.

Addressing the delegation, Ahmed Hassan Moughal said that government should take measures to ensure the implementation of its decision regarding withdrawal of increased gas tariff for Tandoors as its non-implementation was badly affecting the business of this sector.

He said government in September 2018 had increased gas tariff according to which gas sale price for commercial consumers including Tandoors was raised from Rs.700 MMBTU to Rs.980 MMBTU showing an increase of 40 percent in one go.

He said Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet in its meeting held in November 2018 under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Asad Umar had decided to withdraw the increase in gas prices for Tandoors and allow them to pay their gas bills on the previously applicable rates so that price of Roti/Naan may not go up.

However, he said the ECC decision was not implemented as yet due to which Tandoors were receiving gas bills @ Rs.980 MBBTU, which was unjustifiable.

He said increased gas tariff for Tandoors was badly affecting their business and if this trend continued, many Tandoors could close down creating more unemployment in the country. He urged that government should issue instructions to SNGPL to send gas bills on old price to Tandoors to save them from further troubles.