ISLAMABAD, July 5: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday took notice of concerns expressed by the business community over the gas price increase.

Minister for Commerce Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar during a meeting with the prime minister apprised him of the difficulties being faced by the business community after the recent increase in the gas price.

According to an official handout, the prime minister formed a committee to prepare a comprehensive report on the issue.

Talking to Dawn, Chaudhry Mukhtar said the prime minister had convened a meeting of the authorities concerned next week to discuss the issue.

He said the prime minister was convinced that the price hike would hurt the business and industrial sector and promised to do whatever he could to mitigate the concerns.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani in his meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani said that additional funds were being provided to the province for bringing it at par with the developed parts of the country.

He said that extra budgetary funds to the tune of Rs3 billion had been provided to Balochistan from the PM’s funds in order to facilitate the development process there. In addition, he said, Rs3 billion had been provided to the province as arrears of the gas royalty.