FPCCI Urges Government to Withdraw Retrospective Gas Bills

LAHORE: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has urgently appealed to the government to retract the retrospective gas bills imposed on industries and businesses.

The primary trade organization cautioned that the additional economic strain is unsustainable for the nation’s already faltering industrial sector.

The formal request was voiced by the FPCCI leadership, which included Vice President and Regional Chairman Zain Iftikhar Chaudhry, along with Vice President Zaki Aijaz. They have entreated Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik, and relevant regulatory bodies to step in and reverse the contentious billing method implemented by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).

Addressing a press conference held at the FPCCI Regional Office situated in Lahore, Chaudhry conveyed that chambers of commerce and trade associations across the country stand united in opposition. He underscored that this action imperils Pakistan’s industrial output, export capabilities, and the broader fiscal well-being.

“The industry cannot handle these bills,” Chaudhry affirmed. “This initiative risks instigating a significant crisis, making recovery difficult.”

The FPCCI leadership voiced serious misgivings regarding the lack of openness in the decision-making process. They took issue with SNGPL for enforcing the retrospective charges without any prior discussion or official communication to the business community. They consider that this has triggered considerable concern and unease among industrialists.

In addition to the economic burden, the federation called into question the legality and procedural fairness of the independent determination.

Chaudhry specifically drew attention to the existential menace encountered by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which function on narrow profit margins. He firmly rejected SNGPL’s measure and pledged that the business community would not accept these measures under any circumstances.

Characterizing the present condition of the industrial sector as fragile, Chaudhry remarked that numerous manufacturing facilities are nearing shutdown because of sustained economic obstacles.

“The industry is already fighting to stay afloat. It simply lacks the capability to absorb or settle such retroactive bills,” he concluded.