May 28, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1427

SUKKUR, May 27: The Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry has voiced concern over the increase in gas prices by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority for domestic and commercial consumers.

Speaking at a meeting of citizens and traders here on Saturday, SCCI President Khalid Mehmood Khan strongly condemned the hike in gas prices from 7.2 per cent to 16 per cent to be effective from July 1, 2006.

Meanwhile, executive committee members of the chamber said that due to this increase the price of utility would go up and all efforts by the government to reduce the price hike would be failed. They said at the moment when inflation was already very high and affecting the business activities, the recent hike in oil and gas prices would not only hit the overall economy, but also increase the cost of production, affecting country’s exports.

They deplored higher gas prices meant higher food, transportation and utility bills. They said the government had already overburdened the trade and industry as well as general public by imposing abnormal taxes.

They demanded of the government not to allow any increase in prices of gas in the best interest of people and the country.