PESHAWAR: Acting president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ijaz Afridi on Wednesday said the federal government should review its agreements with independent power producers and reduce electricity tariff tangibly.
He also said the country`s economy was at a crossroads and therefore, the future of traders looked very bleak.
Addressing senior members of trader groups in a meeting here, the SCCI leader said IPPs were responsible for the currentenergycrisisandincreasein electricity tariff.
He also demanded a `thorough` audit of the government`s agreements with IPPs.
Mr Afridi warned that if the prices of electricity and petroleum products were not controlled immediately, then a new wave of inflation would hit the people.
He said the cost of business and industrialproductionhadincreasedexponentially due to a consistent hike in electricity, gas and fuel prices.
The acting SCCI president said risingprices of electricity, gas and petroleum didn`t favour the economy.
He urged the government to adopt business-friendly policies in consultation with chambers of commerce, traders and other stakeholders.
Mr Afridi said KP produced low-cost electricity, which was sold to its residents at high rates in an act of great injustice.
`The supply of costly electricity to KP is a sheer violation of the 18th Constitutional Amendment,` he said.
Mr Afridi said electricity was unavailable to people in KP despite payment of inflated bills.
He said the country`s economy couldn`t afford further increase in prices.
The SCCI leader said the government should adopt business-friendly policies to bring economic stability, prosperity and development in the country.
He demanded the government`s special financial package for traders in the province. Mr Afridi said the taxation system should be reformed and that it would cover more people.
He said he would take up the issues of traders with authorities at central and provincial levels for effective resolution..
Earlier, the visitors informed him abouttheissues oflocaltraders.
