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GST on commercial, industrial power consumers opposed

Recorder Report

Lahore: Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union has opposed the recent decision of Wapda to impose 15 percent General Sales Tax (GST) on commercial and industrial consumers.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, various representatives of the union including General Secretary Khurshid Ahmad, President Badar-ul-Islam Abdali and Deputy Chairman Malik Noor Mohammad have urged Wapda to revise its decision on the imposition of 15 percent GST.

They were of the view that the policy of imposing GST on electricity will further exacerbate problems of the consumers, who were already purchasing electricity at rates higher than those available to the consumers of other countries in the region.

They maintained that 11 percent increase in power tariff by Wapda last year and the withdrawal of 30 percent subsidy granted earlier to domestic consumers had already increased the problems of the consumers. "High rates of electricity will not only reduce consumption of electricity but will also negatively affect the competitiveness of industrial products of the country," they added.

They said that government must not accept the pressure of international donor agencies in this regard.

They also demanded of the government to restore the fundamental trade union rights of Wapda workers.