Proposed policy would create uncertainty for businesses, disrupt industrial operations, warns President Junaid Altaf, Goods transporters seek chamber support to address the issues amicably
PESHAWAR
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry strongly opposed the daily fuel price mechanism and warned that the policy would create uncertainty for businesses, disrupt industrial operations, and may trigger chaos at petrol pumps.
President of the chamber Junaid Altaf while talking to a delegation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Transporters and Goods Carrier Association said that the move would make it difficult for industries to determine production costs and pricing, while also raising concerns about transparency in the pricing of petroleum products.
The SCCI chief urged federal and provincial governments to immediately withdraw the proposed daily petroleum pricing mechanism through the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and restore the monthly pricing system.
SCCI Senior Vice President Muhammad Nadeem, members of the executive committee Aftab Iqbal, Ishfaq Ahmad and Shamsur Rahim and others were present in the meeting.
The delegation was headed by KP Goods Transporters Association President Hussain Khan, Chairman Haji Iftikhar, General Secretary Shahid Khan, Press Secretary Waqas Afridi along with senior office bearers of the association, and Goods transporters.
Transporters on occasion protested the imposition of the Customs SRO 1619(I)/2024, alleging that customs officials are using the notification under the cover of the FBR to harass transporters and seek illegal gratification.
Expressing grave concern over the excessive increase in toll tax, transporters demanded of the government to restore the rates prevailing on June 30, 2024.
Transporters called for a reduction in the seven per cent withholding tax on the goods transport sector to two per cent, bringing it at par with the rate applicable to oil tankers.
The association office-bearers urged authorities to ensure strict implementation of axle-load regulations at the point of loading instead of penalising transporters during transit.
Transporters criticised the traffic and highway police for allegedly imposing excessive fines and harassing transporters.
They demanded the removal of “unauthorised” checkpoints near the Peshawar Toll Plaza and an end to arbitrary penalties and forced route diversions.
The SCCI chief said the borders are a lifeline for the KP businesses and industries, which had closed down for the last several months, due to which traders suffered massive financial and operational losses.
He called for framing business-friendly policies and facilitation steps to grow the economy, businesses and industry.
The SCCI chief assured the transporters to take up their issues with higher authorities at federal and provincial level.
