ICCI calls for withdrawal of Rs.1.82 per unit power tariff hike - Press Release issued by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Islamabad -- November 08, 2019 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)

Quote

Muhammad Ahmed Waheed President, Tahir Abbasi Senior Vice President and Saif ur Rahman Khan Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry have called upon the government to withdraw the Rs.1.82 per unit power tariff hike approved by NEPRA few days ago as it would put additional burden of Rs.24 billion on the electricity consumers, further enhance the cost of doing business and bring more inflation to the common man leading to slowdown in business activities. They said that manufacturing cost in Pakistan was already quite high on account of exorbitant energy price and in these circumstance, any further hike in power tariff would have harmful consequences on the growth of business and economic activities.

Muhammad Ahmed Waheed said that business sector was already facing great challenges due to depreciation of rupee, hike in SBP interest rate, surge in prices of electricity, gas and POL products. Therefore, in such tough business environment, increasing electricity price would not be beneficial for the economy. He said that the decision would also affect exports by making them more uncompetitive in the international market and urged that government should withdraw this hike to save the private sector and economy from further troubles.

ICCI President said that Pakistan's heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation was the main cause of high cost of doing business. He said that Pakistan has great potential to generate...