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| December 23, 2005 | Friday | Ziqa’ad 20, 1426 |
Gas tariff raise a blow to industry
FAISALABAD, Dec 22: The local chamber of commerce and industry has expressed concern over raise in the tariff of Sui gas and extortionating petroleum product prices. Speaking to journalists here on Thursday, FCCI President Mian Muhammad Hanif described the increase in the prices of gas and POL products as detrimental to the national economy.
He said the industrialists had already been facing innumerable problems owing to heavy taxation on their products in the international market. The recent raise in the gas tariff would force a number of textile ancillary units to wind up.
He said the exports of the country would face a serious blow after the decision, as the local exporters had already been facing problems in competing with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and China.
He demanded that President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz should personally look into the matter and announce withdrawal of raise in gas tariff.
ANTI-CRIME DRIVE: Senior police officers of the Faisalabad, Sargodha and Gujranwala ranges have decided to jointly launch a campaign against proclaimed offenders.
At a meeting held here in the DPO office, Faisalabad Range DIG Khwaja Khalid Farooq, Sargodha Range DIG Pervaiz Akbar Lodhi and Gujranwala Range DIG Zafar Abbas Lak, besides the district police officers, exchanged information about the proclaimed offenders and other criminals.
The meeting unanimously decided that the target given by the chief minister about the arrest of proclaimed offenders would be achieved by utilizing all possible resources.
The policemen decided to raid the dens of criminals in the far-flung areas, especially along the river Ravi, through a systematic campaign. They also discussed their line of action before the operation against proclaimed offenders.
Electioneering: Electioneering for the District Bar Association polls has gained momentum after the filing of nomination papers.
Chaudhry Talib Husain Chattha, Nasir Ali Goraya and Asghar Ali Randhawa have filed papers for the top slot, and Mohammad Shabbir Raza, Mohammad Iqbal Azeemi and Ibaid Ali Ibad for vice-presidentship.
Rana Musharraf Ali Khan and Mohammad Shahid Lodhi are in the run for the secretary seat and Mohammad Zubair Janjua, Shahid Ali Chattha and Rana Moazam Ali for joint secretary. Mohammad Irfan Ashraf and Rana Mohammad Sadiq have been elected unopposed finance secretary and auditor, respectively.
For the 10-member executive committee, 18 candidates have filed nomination papers and started their election campaign.
All three candidates for the top slot belong to the Jat clan and have deep roots among the lawyers community. Talib Husain Chattha is a former member of the Punjab Bar Council, while Nasir Ali Goraya had contested bar elections a number of times, but failed to clinch any seat. Asghar Ali Randhawa, a retired schoolteacher, had started legal practice a few years ago.
It is observed that the main contest will be between Talib Husain Chattha and Nasir Ali Goraya.
The candidates have launched a door-to-door campaign and visiting the chambers of their colleagues to muster support. As many as 1,650 DBA members will exercise their right to franchise on Jan 5.
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