LAHORE: The Businessmen Panel (BMP) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has warned that the imposition of massive retrospective gas arrears on industries will prove devastating for Pakistan’s economy and exports.
FPCCI former president and BMP Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar urged the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and the government to immediately withdraw the unjustified arrears, calling them an unbearable burden on already struggling businesses.
Mian Anjum Nisar said that manufacturers across the country have received shockingly inflated bills, covering nearly a decade of alleged adjustments, at a time when industries are already battling with record-high energy costs, dwindling demand, and liquidity shortages. He said such arbitrary moves would not only cripple the textile and manufacturing sectors but also paralyze the country’s export potential.
“Industries are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, yet they are being pushed towards closure with irrational decisions. How can any business survive when it is forced to pay retrospective bills covering years of adjustments without explanation or reconciliation?” he asked. He added that the private sector was already crushed under exorbitant power tariffs, double-digit interest rates, and inflationary pressures and now retrospective gas arrears have added fuel to the fire.
The BMP leader said that during the last few months, exporters and manufacturers have been raising alarm over unsustainable energy prices. Gas and electricity tariffs in Pakistan remain the highest in the region, making Pakistani products uncompetitive in global markets. “At a time when Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam are giving subsidies and relief to their exporters, we are penalizing ours with the most expensive energy in the region. This is a recipe for disaster,” Nisar stated.
He said that instead of providing relief to industry, the sudden issuance of these arrears bills has created panic among businesses. Several member companies of FPCCI have reported receiving bills worth hundreds of millions of rupees with an unrealistic payment deadline, leaving them with no choice but to either shut down operations or default. “This will lead to job losses, capital flight, and further shrinkage of industrial activity,” he warned.
The BMP pointed out that the textile sector, which contributes more than 60 percent of Pakistan’s total exports, is already on the verge of collapse due to high input costs, supply chain disruptions, and falling orders. The imposition of retrospective gas arrears could force many mills to close permanently. “Instead of creating an environment for growth, we are strangling our largest foreign exchange earning sector,” said Nisar. He emphasized that the government must understand the gravity of the situation. Pakistan is facing a historic economic crisis, with low foreign reserves and a widening trade gap, and the only way out is through boosting exports. “If industries collapse, exports will nosedive further, and Pakistan will have no choice but to borrow more. This vicious cycle will never end unless we change our policies,” he remarked.
Mian Anjum Nisar urged the government to sit with stakeholders and devise a practical roadmap that ensures affordable energy for industries. He demanded an immediate freeze on retrospective gas arrears, a reduction in power tariffs, and the introduction of regionally competitive energy pricing for exporters. “The government cannot expect industries to pay for its inefficiencies. Retrospective billing of nearly a decade is nothing but an attempt to cover past mismanagement at the cost of businesses,” he said.
The BMP also drew attention to the fact that many small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which form the bulk of Pakistan’s industrial base, are unable to absorb such financial shocks. Unlike large corporations, SMEs do not have the cash flow or reserves to pay unjustified arrears. “Thousands of SMEs will be wiped out if these arrears are not withdrawn. This will not only hurt exports but also trigger unemployment and social unrest,” he cautioned.
Calling for a national-level dialogue, Anjum Nisar said it was time for the government to prioritize industrial revival instead of burdening it further.
He stressed that policymakers must treat exporters as partners in progress, not as cash cows for revenue collection. “The energy crisis, coupled with poor policy decisions, has already resulted in declining exports. If immediate relief is not provided, Pakistan risks losing its global markets permanently,” he added. He reminded the authorities that the textile and manufacturing industries had been appealing for long-term energy policies to ensure predictability and stability. Instead, the sector is confronted with sudden shocks like retrospective billing, which destroys investor confidence. “We need consistent policies, not knee-jerk measures. Investors will never bring money into a country where rules change overnight and costs are imposed retrospectively,” he said.
The BMP reiterated its full support to industries across the country in resisting these unjustified arrears. It demanded the government withdraw the bills without delay and instead focus on reducing the cost of doing business, stabilizing the currency, and promoting exports. “This is not just an industry issue, it is a national issue. Without industries, there can be no jobs, no exports, and no economic stability.
LAHORE: The Businessmen Panel (BMP) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has warned that the imposition of massive retrospective gas arrears on industries will prove devastating for Pakistan’s economy and exports.
FPCCI former president and BMP Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar urged the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and the government to immediately withdraw the unjustified arrears, calling them an unbearable burden on already struggling businesses.
Mian Anjum Nisar said that manufacturers across the country have received shockingly inflated bills, covering nearly a decade of alleged adjustments, at a time when industries are already battling with record-high energy costs, dwindling demand, and liquidity shortages. He said such arbitrary moves would not only cripple the textile and manufacturing sectors but also paralyze the country’s export potential.
“Industries are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, yet they are being pushed towards closure with irrational decisions. How can any business survive when it is forced to pay retrospective bills covering years of adjustments without explanation or reconciliation?” he asked. He added that the private sector was already crushed under exorbitant power tariffs, double-digit interest rates, and inflationary pressures and now retrospective gas arrears have added fuel to the fire.
The BMP leader said that during the last few months, exporters and manufacturers have been raising alarm over unsustainable energy prices. Gas and electricity tariffs in Pakistan remain the highest in the region, making Pakistani products uncompetitive in global markets. “At a time when Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam are giving subsidies and relief to their exporters, we are penalizing ours with the most expensive energy in the region. This is a recipe for disaster,” Nisar stated.
He said that instead of providing relief to industry, the sudden issuance of these arrears bills has created panic among businesses. Several member companies of FPCCI have reported receiving bills worth hundreds of millions of rupees with an unrealistic payment deadline, leaving them with no choice but to either shut down operations or default. “This will lead to job losses, capital flight, and further shrinkage of industrial activity,” he warned.
The BMP pointed out that the textile sector, which contributes more than 60 percent of Pakistan’s total exports, is already on the verge of collapse due to high input costs, supply chain disruptions, and falling orders. The imposition of retrospective gas arrears could force many mills to close permanently. “Instead of creating an environment for growth, we are strangling our largest foreign exchange earning sector,” said Nisar. He emphasized that the government must understand the gravity of the situation. Pakistan is facing a historic economic crisis, with low foreign reserves and a widening trade gap, and the only way out is through boosting exports. “If industries collapse, exports will nosedive further, and Pakistan will have no choice but to borrow more. This vicious cycle will never end unless we change our policies,” he remarked.
Mian Anjum Nisar urged the government to sit with stakeholders and devise a practical roadmap that ensures affordable energy for industries. He demanded an immediate freeze on retrospective gas arrears, a reduction in power tariffs, and the introduction of regionally competitive energy pricing for exporters. “The government cannot expect industries to pay for its inefficiencies. Retrospective billing of nearly a decade is nothing but an attempt to cover past mismanagement at the cost of businesses,” he said.
The BMP also drew attention to the fact that many small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which form the bulk of Pakistan’s industrial base, are unable to absorb such financial shocks. Unlike large corporations, SMEs do not have the cash flow or reserves to pay unjustified arrears. “Thousands of SMEs will be wiped out if these arrears are not withdrawn. This will not only hurt exports but also trigger unemployment and social unrest,” he cautioned.
Calling for a national-level dialogue, Anjum Nisar said it was time for the government to prioritize industrial revival instead of burdening it further.
He stressed that policymakers must treat exporters as partners in progress, not as cash cows for revenue collection. “The energy crisis, coupled with poor policy decisions, has already resulted in declining exports. If immediate relief is not provided, Pakistan risks losing its global markets permanently,” he added. He reminded the authorities that the textile and manufacturing industries had been appealing for long-term energy policies to ensure predictability and stability. Instead, the sector is confronted with sudden shocks like retrospective billing, which destroys investor confidence. “We need consistent policies, not knee-jerk measures. Investors will never bring money into a country where rules change overnight and costs are imposed retrospectively,” he said.
The BMP reiterated its full support to industries across the country in resisting these unjustified arrears. It demanded the government withdraw the bills without delay and instead focus on reducing the cost of doing business, stabilizing the currency, and promoting exports. “This is not just an industry issue, it is a national issue. Without industries, there can be no jobs, no exports, and no economic stability.
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