Govt urged to waive off electricity, gas bills

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Engr Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz has appealed to the government to waive-off electricity and gas bills of industrial and commercial consumers for at least three months.

Addressing a joint meeting of industrialists, traders and shopkeepers via video link here on Thursday, SCCI chief appreciated the government for deferment payment of electricity and gas bills of domestic consumers for next three months, which will definitely give relief to poverty-stricken and coronavirus hit poor masses.

Maqsood Pervaiz said the industrial and commercial activities have completely suspended due to prolonged lockdown as precautionary steps to contain spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. He said the business community is being faced serious financial challenges and other issues due to halt of industrial process and commercial activities.

However, he regretted the government is yet not issue orders to defer payment of electricity and gas bills of industrial and commercial consumers, which is completely unjust and unfair with them.

The chamber president urged the federal government, Prime Minister Imran Khan, federal Minister for Water and Power, Umar Ayub and high-ups of SNGPL to waive off electricity and gas bills of industrial and commercial consumers for next three months.

He said the traders community are already being faced with enormous difficulties, now their businesses had adversely affected due outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in the province.

So, he demanded of the government to announce special concession in electricity and gas bills and allow to payment of all utilities bills in several installations as well as give extension in submission bills payments atleast for three to four months.

SCCI president demanded of the government to exempt small traders from all federal and provincial taxes immediately, besides facility of interest-free loans to be granted to them as well as rents of district government, Auquf properties should be waived off for atleast one year.