Government has given relief to five major export sectors including textile by providing them gas at $6.5 per MMBTU. Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) president Syed Zia Alumdar Hussain has thanked the government who successfully honoured its commitment and gas company has issued gas bills with adjustment of excess amount paid through bills of last one and a half month.
Talking to journalists, FCCI chief mentioned that Federal Finance Minister Asad Umar had visited FCCI in October last year and categorically announced that exporters will get gas at $6.5 per MMBTU so that they could trim their production coast and compete with their regional business rivals in addition to paying their key role in enhancing exports from the country. He told that the subsidized supply of gas was effective from October 16, 2018 as government has released approximately Rs 25 billion for this specific purpose to the gas companies. The modus operandi for the payment of this relief was decided through gas companies. The government has paid the subsidy direct to the gas companies who will subsequently pass it on to the concerned exporters through their gas bills.
He said this process remained in lurch due to procedural bottlenecks. However, now the SNGPL has issued gas bills for the months of December 2018 in which subsidized rates has been charged. He further told that the excess amount paid by the exporters in previous bills of October and November last has also been adjusted in this bill for the month of December, 2018. He termed it a positive step which is indicative that government is seriously making efforts to bridge the gap between imports and exports.
Zia Alumdar offered his deepest gratitude for Prime Minister Imran Khan, Finance Minister Asad Umer and Adviser to PM on Commerce, Industry and Textile Abdul Razzaq Dawood and Petroleum Minister Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar for materializing this genuine demand of exporters in best interest of the nation and the country.