The All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran (APAT) said on Saturday that if the government is eager to enhance trade with India, it should import cheaper petroleum products and electricity from there. The demand was made during a reception hosted by the Anjuman-e-Tajiran Garhi Shahu Board in honour of the office-bearers of the APAT Lahore chapter.
Anjuman-e-Tajiran Garhi Shahu Board President Malik Tahir, APAT Central General Secretary Naeem Mir, Rana Shahbaz, Shahid Bilal and APAT Punjab President Mehboob Sirki attended the reception.
Addressing the meeting APAT Secretary Naeem Mir said diesel has crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark in Pakistan while in India it is available for 77 Pakistani rupees per litre. Electricity is being provided to Indian industries at Rs 1 per unit, while in Pakistan it costs Rs 9.38 per unit, he said. Criticising the allocation of Rs 840 billion for uplift projects in the 2012-13 budget, he said the federal government wanted to get the favour of its MPs, as more than 60 percent of the amount allocated will be wasted due to corruption.
He asked the government to take solid steps in the upcoming budget to resolve the issue of the mounting circular debt, as it was the only short-term measure to end load shedding from the country.
APAT Punjab President Mehboob Sirki, APAT Lahore President Shahid Bilal and Chairman Rana Shahbaz while addressing the meeting, said the government has increased power tariff by 130 per cent during last four years.
They said the provision of furnace oil to the power units and payments to the private power producers could eliminate the 14-15 hours load shedding but the government is not serious about resolving the issue.
They said it was almost impossible for them to continue their businesses while without power for 16 hours. They stated that the workers are losing their jobs but that he government is playing the role of a silent spectator.
