SIALKOT, Feb 3: The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has rejected the recent increase in prices of petroleum products.

Talking to newsmen here, SCCI president Mian Babar Iqbal, senior vice-president Mohammad Sadiq Goraya and vice-president Mohammad Ashraf Malik expressed concern over frequent hikes in the prices of petroleum products and electricity and termed it a negative trend for the production sector.

They regretted that at a time when petroleum prices were declining in the international market, they were being increased in the country fortnightly.

The rising POL prices is a major cause of the persistent decline of national exports. Increase in the production cost of export items makes them uncompetitive in the international markets.

SCCI office-bearers demanded of the government to stabilize petroleum prices to give a boost to the local industry.

GAS-CUTS: People have strongly protested against the daily suspension of Sui Gas supply in the thickly populated areas of Sialkot and Daska.

The local SNGPL authorities have said that due to shortage of gas, suspension of gas supply will continue on a daily basis throughout the winter season.