MARDAN: The Marble and Mines Industries Development Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday announced that its members would observe a complete strike from today (Tuesday) for an indefinite period against the exorbitant fuel price adjustment in electricity bills and imposition of other taxes.

Association chairman Sajjad Khan told a presser here that the marble and mine industrialists were struggling to manage business due to the imposition of exorbitant fuel price adjustment in electricity bills, quarter tariff adjustment, extra tax, and double general sales tax.

He said the strike, whose call was given to claim rights, would affect more than one million labourers connected with the marble and mine industries across the province.

“We [marble and mine industries] will observe a complete strike from tomorrow [Tuesday] for an indefinite period,” he said.

Leaders say SC to be moved against fuel adjustment charge

Accompanied by association district president Afzal Shah Khattak and leaders Nihad Ali and Sikandar Bacha, Mr Sajjad resented ‘exorbitant’ fuel price adjustment in electricity bills in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said the FPA was a sheer injustice to the local industries as province produced electricity.

He claimed that the Peshawar High Court had given a verdict against the FPA in 2012 but even then, it was collected from power consumers.

“We are going to move the Supreme Court against the FPA,” he said.

He also warned that owners and workers of mine and marble industries would stage a sit-in in Islamabad if the government didn’t meet their demands.

Meanwhile, Mardan regional police officer Yaseen Farooq on Monday said the police were committed to protecting the people and addressing complaints against their officials or criminals.

He was speaking during the monthly review meeting via video link about the complaints lodged with his office on the Pakistan Citizen Portal.

The meeting was attended by DPOs Dr Zahidullah of Mardan, Mohammad Umar of Nowshera, Mohammad Shoaib of Swabi, Sohail Khalid of Charsadda and Salahuddin Kundi of Mohmand.

The RPO said the police were trying their best to resolve the people’s problems efficiently. He warned that strict action would be taken against negligent officials.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2022