Pakistan Ship Breakers Association chairman Azam Malik has asked Balochistan governor and chief minister for immediate intervention to save ship breaking industry from collapse or thousands of people would become jobless.
Speaking to media persons here on Monday, Azam Malik said that livelihood of thousands of people is associated with Balochistan's the biggest industry ship breaking. Prior to federal budget 2007-8 a sales tax was imposed of Rs 2700 per tonne under old tax structure but in the budget 2007-8 this tax has been enhanced to Rs 5600 per tonne which is beyond ship breakers' reach.
He said that due to enhanced tax, this industry would die and thousands of workers would render jobless and prices of steel scrap would also go up and common man has to bear additional expenses of Rs 4000 per tonne for the purchase of iron bar (saria).
He said a delegation headed by former Chairman Haji Abdul Majeed Kamboh, Vice Chairman Mahbub Ali, Members Central Committee Dr Daya Ram, Muhammad Omar Memon Bhai, and Secretary Asif Ali would go to Islamabad and hold talks with the high ups there.