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All trade and industry related organizations of Faisalabad have unanimously announced to launch protestation against unbearable increase in electricity tariff and unresolved textile related issues here from February 10, 2020. In this connection a fully authorized Joint Action Committee (JAC) has been constituted to forge unity among different associations in order to make this strike result oriented and successful.

This was announced by Rana Sikandar-e-Azam Khan President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI). He was addressing a joint session of business leaders hailing from 100 different business and industrial related organization of Faisalabad.

He told that traders and industrialists are fully aware of the negative impacts of these twin problems which have made it impossible for them to continue their businesses. He had already conveyed his concern to Prime Minister and other concerned government officials but no one is ready to understand the gravity of the situation.

"Hence we have no other option but to close down our shops and industrial units", he observed, adding that the now specially trade organizations having street power must play their pivotal role in making this strike a total success.

He said that we are not demanding any charity or favor from government but four times increase in electricity tariff has multiplied our liquidity problems and we are unable to continue our normal businesses in the prevailing situation. He termed government's steps as anti trade and anti industry and said that these have triggered a new wave of inflation and we have been left with no other option but to launch a peaceful protestation.

"We are ready to expand it to the national level and Faisalabad will certainly lead this move", he assured. He told that Joint Action Committee will formulate its problems and if these were accepted, the strike could be withdrawn immediately.

Responding to a question about fabulous electricity bills payable for 31st January, 2020, he assured to take up this issue with FESCO Chief with a request to extend the last date of payment up to February 10, 2020.

Zafar Iqbal Sarwar Senior Vice President told that PTI made a clean sweep during last elections in Faisalabad only due to the textile policy prepared by him. "It was also acknowledged by the Governor Punjab Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar", he told and added that as the old and redundant policy makers were re-inducted, his textile policy was totally reversed creating unrest among the entire business community.

He demanded action against incompetent ministers and advisors responsible for inflation and decline in export. Regarding hefty increase in electricity tariff, he told that in December per unit price of electricity was Rs18 while in this month, it has jumped to Rs26 per unit. He told that he had been clearly pointing out energy problems in every Executive Committee meeting of the FCCI and he had forewarned that the SME sector would be closed if this unbridle wave of price hike was not checked.

He suggested zero tolerance strategy to save national economy from total collapse and warned that in March the export will further witness a decline of 10% during the month of March. He further told that while clamping 17% sales tax on zero rated export sectors, it was clearly promised that refund would be paid positively within 72 hours but up till now the refunds of only September and October have been paid.

He told that exports have become vulnerable in prevailing situation as exporter's 25% capital would be blocked in refunds regime and they would be unable to continue their businesses without running capital.

Vice President Bilal Waheed Sheikh urged unity among all the trade and industrial organizations and hoped that every sector will fully support the joint action committee constituted to negotiate with government and make the arrangements for the strike.

Earlier business leaders and industrialists expressed their individual views. There was complete unity on starting protestation as all other options have been failed to yield any positive result.

Meanwhile, joint action committee was constituted. Mian Naeem Ahmed will head this JAC while Malik Arif Ehsan, Hafiz Ihtesham Javaid , Mian Aftab Ahmed, Suhail Pasha, Naveed Gulzar , Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz, Waheed Khaliq Rahmy , Shahid Razaq Sika , Muhammad Aslam Bhalli, Naseer Yusuf Vohra , Tanveer Riaz , Nadeem Ashfaq Puri, Riaz-Ul-Haq, Mogheez Khokhar and Mirza Shafique are included in this committee as its members.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020

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