Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has assured LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh to resolve the issue of SRO 821(I) 2011 at the earliest. The prime minister was talking to the LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh during a meeting in Prime Minister House on Thursday. The LCCI former Presidents Mian Anjum Nisar, Mian Shafqat Ali, Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry and Chairman PIAF Engr.
Sohail Lashari were also present in the meeting. The PM said he would have meetings with federal finance minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and FBR chairman Salman Siddiq for the withdrawal of SRO 821(I) 2011. He also agreed with the LCCI president’s proposal for bringing down the markup rate to single digit for industrial and economic revival. The prime minister said the government was making all out efforts to overcome ongoing energy crisis. He also said in future all business related decisions would be made in consultation with the business community. “No business related decision would be taken without taking Chambers of Commerce & Industry in the country on board.” LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh informed the prime minister that the entire business community was very disturbed with the issuance of SRO 821(I)2011 as it is not practicable and would deprive the government of much needed revenue.
Irfan particularly mentioned the exemption granted to the sugar industry from the said SRO, saying that there must not be restrictions for all other documented sectors. On the issue of ongoing energy crisis, the LCCI president said the industrial production has nose-dived to the lowest ebb because of lack of electricity and the industrialists and businessmen are unable to pay their banking dues.
