ATTOCK, Aug 31: The president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Zubair Ahmed Malik, strongly condemned the increase in electricity tariff (up to 74 per cent) and termed it ‘a murder of trade and industry in Pakistan’.

Additionally, he criticised the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR’s) access to the bank accounts of the general public.

He expressed his views while addressing the Attock Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI) in which a large number of traders, and political and social figures participated.

Vice president of Saarc CCI Iftikhar Ali Malik, President Islamabad CCI Zafar Bakhtawari, former district nazim Attock Tahir Sadik Khan and President ACCI Dr Khalid Saeed Khan were also present on the occasion.

Mr Zubair Malik said the industry was already facing severe crises due to deteriorating security, increased taxes and lack of gas, and the increase in tariff would result in a surge in prices of various products. This would lead to inflation and increase unemployment, he said.

Domestic users

The FPCCI president said domestic consumers would also be affected by the increased tariff.

“Electricity distribution companies have installed multi-tariff meters whereby commercial rates would be charged during peak hours,” he said, adding that this would be the last straw for the middle class.

He added that the increase in power tariff was not applicable in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which was a biased attitude of the government.