SCCI rejects LNG import decision

RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Mohammad Yousaf Sarwar, while rejecting the government move of LNG import, said that the step was totally unwise and against the CNG industry and business community, which should be withdrawn immediately.

“We will not support any step against business community and poor masses and would strongly resist anti-business approaches of the government at every level”, Dr Yousaf Sarwar said in his maiden press conference as President of the SCCI to unveil his future plan of action for betterment of the business community here at the chamber house on Saturday. On the occasion, Vice Presidents, Malik Iftikhar Ahmad Awan, Mohammad Anees Ashraf along with other members of the cabinet were present.

Dr Sarwar further said that the government had acknowledged that new reservoirs of gas had been discovered from 300 to 400 cubic feet in Sindh province, despite availability of huge quantity of gas resources, the decision of LNG import was totally out of context and an unwise move, which could directly affect the local gas industry and consumers.

 Despite the fact that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa contributes eight per cent of the total gas production of the country, he said that the province had been barred from getting new gas connections, which was totally unjustified and an unwise step of the government. He said that the KP province had net gas consumption of 4 per cent. He demanded an immediate withdrawal of the decision of LNG imports and restriction on new gas connections issues in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Reacting to the decision of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) for fixing prices of petroleum products on a weekly basis, he said that they were totally against the policy, and stressed the need for devising a mechanism for ascertaining the prices of petroleum commodities on a monthly basis.

 While explaining his future plan of action and vision for betterment of the business community, Dr Yousaf Sarwar said he would take up the issues faced by the community at both the provincial and federal level to sort out an amicable solution for them. For the purpose, he said that the chamber would also consult with the business community to devise policies and take decisions in their better interest and for the resolution of their problems.

Dr Sarwar said that the extension of the Prime Minister Fiscal Relief Package to the KP business community would also be the main target and objective included in his comprehensive business friendly policy. In this regard, the KP business delegation led by the Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf very soon, he stated.

He stressed the need for development of hydel generation projects to meet the growing energy needs in the province, demanding handing over control of Power and Gas processing and production to the provinces.

The chamber president said he would try to strength relations with the chambers, central government, and foreign missions to frame policies as per demands of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa business community, particularly resolution of issues being faced in international trade and economic ties.

Welcoming the establishment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment (KPBOI) on the recommendation of the SCCI, he stressed the need for serious efforts at the board level for resolution of business community issues. “We have also planned to prepare solid proposals for the government to devise a new industrial policy to promote industrialisation in the province, Dr Sarwar explained. He maintained the establishment of modern industrial estate in the shape of business Hub Park is also included in his future policy.

Expressing grave concern over the low lending ratio of the commercial banks in the KP province, he said that the issue would be taken up with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to ask the banks to bring a change in their attitude against the business community.

The SCCI chief said the chamber would take practical steps for the removal of the business community’s concerns over the new Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA). He also said that the up-gradation of the existing industrial estates would be also included in his agenda and future policy.