Pakistan may face tremendous problem to compete in world markets if the present practice of day today increase in power, gas tariffs and oil prices continues.

Days are not far away when Pakistani products will be out of foreign markets. Pakistan will also become dumping ground of foreign cheap smuggled goods.

The present government has failed to introduce export-friendly policies and this may cause serious setback to the country as the value of the rupee has already slipped many times in last few months besides increasing cost of doing business

This was the crust of the traders and industrialists talks to Business Recorder on power tariff increased by Nations Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on the behest of the government.

The government has been imposing "unexplained" and "arbitrary" tariff and other charges on the helpless consumers who do not have any option but to pay their bills. They alleged that the government was burdening people in every possible way.

It would be an additional burden on the masses who are already reeling under inflation. "Is it a right step to increase the financial burden of the consumers when they are facing an unprecedented load- shedding, gas shortage, oil prices going up and rupee sliding down against dollar ," Chairman Site Association of Industry (SAI) Younus M Bashir asked

He said the recent increase would ultimately make the life of industrialists, traders and the public difficult. Industrialists would have a higher production cost which would cause factories and units to close down.

The economy is not in a position to absorb the negative impact of day today increase in oil, gas and power tariffs, which will also aggravate prevailing political unrest.

He said power tariff for industries increased by around 53 percent, for captive power by 18 percent, one dollar has reached from Rs 97 to Rs 106 making all imported raw material expensive and all these factors have made difficult to keep units operative

Mohammad Razak, an exporter, said that export orders are booked seasonally, normally six months in advance The industry has to bear the brunt of such unforeseen costs as their impact could not be transferred to buyers because of sudden hike in gas, power tariffs and petroleum prices

He said neither the government nor the regulatory authorities having any head to look at impact of increase on masses, industry and trade.

It is other bomb which the government has dropped on the already ailing industry and poor nation

He termed the recent incase in power tariff as an anti- trade, anti- industry and anti -people.

Former Chairman North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI), Abdul Rasheed Fodderwala said that after intervention of Supreme Court and its direction that federal government can not revise tariffs as authority of increasing tariffs rest on regulatory authorizes it was hoped that NEPRA may made some calculation before rising the tariffs. while NEPRA has acted as rubber stamp and issued the notification without any calculation.

Former President FPCCI S.M.Muneer has shown r serious concern on the increase in prices of electricity He said that NEPRA and OGRA already have drop the petrol and electricity bombs on the industry and poor nation, day to day increase in cost of production will make very difficult to compete in the foreign markets.

They urged the government to review its decision in the larger interests of the country in general and for the sake of industry and economy in particular

He said that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif should review the increase in electricity, gas and petroleum prices on priority basis so that relief l be given to industry and people.

President All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Mian Zahid Hussain, said that government should consider taking back the recent price hike in electricity so that economic activities should grow and we can able to earn foreign exchange.

He said that we should avoid the theft of electricity and ensure the distribution of energy saver to save the energy. He further said that entire industrial sector was already facing multiple internal and external challenges and the recent increase would further aggravate the economic situation.

KATI President, Syed Farukh Mazher, said that there will be negative effect due to increase of electricity prices and due to this step industrial and commercial activities will be badly affected. Due to increase in electricity prices cost of living will also be increased. He further said that to make room of energy prices we should use new resources for producing electricity. Cheap electricity will be produced from coal and solar energy.