KARACHI: Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)President Ismail Suttar on Thursday demanded withdrawal of the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess levied on gas consumption on the pretext of “Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project”.
Suttar made these comments in a meeting with office-bearers of different chambers. The meeting included office bearers of FPCCI, KCCI, LCCI. The different chambers, associations and trade bodies at the meeting unanimously rejected the levy of GIDC, terming it extremely unjustified.
The LCCI president was of the view that as no work was being done on this project, the levy has become uncalled for and has proved to be an extra burden on the trade and industry adding to their cost of doing business, thus lowering their competitiveness.
The participants of the meeting were of the view that the business community is united in its opposition to GIDC and overwhelmingly rejects it as it is an added and unfair strain on their cost of production.They said that the development of the infrastructure is the responsibility of the government for which the business community pays for through taxes. They added that they do not need to be burdened further with an unnecessary tax especially for a project which is going nowhere.
They said that the development of the infrastructure is the responsibility of the government for which the business community pays for through taxes. They added that they do not need to be burdened further with an unnecessary tax especially for a project which is going nowhere.The participants opined that these kinds of measures can have damaging consequences for the business community rendering them less profitable in an aggressively competitive market.
The participants opined that these kinds of measures can have damaging consequences for the business community rendering them less profitable in an aggressively competitive market.They were of the view that the Pakistani business community is already at a disadvantage compared to the other countries. They put forth the question, “How can the government hope to see us competing with the rest of the world if we keep getting hurt by our own policies?”
They were of the view that the Pakistani business community is already at a disadvantage compared to the other countries. They put forth the question, “How can the government hope to see us competing with the rest of the world if we keep getting hurt by our own policies?”
Terming the GIDC as an anti-business initiative, Suttar said that the levy of such charges and other similar policies of the government were leading to a state of unemployment, anti-production, and were contributing to the sluggish export performance of the country.In view of the above,
In view of the above, Suttar has urged the government to immediately withdraw the levy of GIDC on gas consumption to provide some relief to the trade and industries.