ICCI urges for resolving key issues of Ghee Industry

  • October 07, 2019
Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that ghee industry was playing an important role in meeting the needs of common man, but imposition of high taxes on it has increased inflation for the general public. He stressed that government should focus on resolving the key issues of ghee industry that would facilitate the growth of business activities and provide relief to the common man. He said this while talking to Atif Ikram Sheikh, Chairman, Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association, who visited Chamber House to congratulate him on his election as President ICCI. Khalid Javed former President ICCI, Fahad Waheed Sheikh, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khalid Chaudhry, Ch. Masood and Ashfaq Chath were also present. Speaking at the occasion, Atif Ikram Sheikh, Chairman, Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA) said that government has imposed 17% GST, Rs.10500 per ton duty and 5% income tax on ghee industry due to which this industry was paying cumulative tax of around 30%, which was too high. He said due to implementation of new axle load regime, transport fair for industry has also gone up significantly. He said that Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) was developing standards for ghee industry while provincial food authorities were also now introducing their own standards due to which it was difficult for ghee and cooking oil industry to meet the standards of all authorities. Atif Ikram Sheikh said that government in consultation with Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association should take measures to resolve the major hurdles in the way of ghee and cooking oil industry so that this industry could play more effective role in the economic development of the country and people could also avail its products at affordable prices.