KARACHI: Trade and industry has urged the government to immediately withdraw Gas In­­fra­structure Development Cess (GIDC) levied on gas consumption on the pretext of developing the ‘Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project’.

Lasbela Chamber of Com­merce and Industry (LCCI) President Ismail Suttar said that since work on the project has not picked up pace, there was no need to keep collecting the cess.

The collection of GIDC from industry is tantamount to making country’s exports uncompetitive on the world market, particularly at a time when the cost of doing business is higher against the regional countries, Mr Suttar added.

Chairman Pakistan Bed­wear Exporters Association (PBEA) Shabir Ahmed said the business community was united in its opposition to GIDC and rejects it.

He further said infrastructure development is the responsibility of the government for which the business community pays through taxes.

There is no need to further burden the organised sector with an unnecessary toll especially for a project which is going nowhere, he added.

Pakistan Apparel Forum (PAF) chairman Jawed Bila­wani said if the industry has to carry extra cost, then the government should know that it is being done at the cost of this sector’s competitiveness in the world market.

The business leaders urged the government to immediately withdraw GIDC on gas consumption and allow the industry and exports to get some relief so the sector could become competitive in the world market.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2017