January 10, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 30, 1428

PESHAWAR, Jan 9: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has expressed concern over the recent hike in the gas tariff for industrial and commercial consumers and called upon the caretaker prime minister to withdraw the decision.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, SCCI president Haji Mohammad Asif and other office-bearers of the chamber said that the five to 10 per cent increase in the gas tariff would badly affect the business activities in the country.

They said commercial and industrial consumers were already facing a severe crisis because of low pressure of gas supply and power loadshedding and the surge in the gas tariff would aggravate the situation.

According to them, the industries and other businsses operating in the NWFP were passing through a critical juncture and they would be closed down if the government did not withdraw the increase in the tariff.