Thursday, March 28, 2024

Industries fear closing due to cheap Chinese products

Manufacturers of pottery and ceramic items have filed a strong complaint against the recent increase in gas tariffs, which is the industry’s primary fuel.

They said that the move would make their products uncompetitive and that Chinese manufacturers would be able to grab the whole Pakistani market in this area.

According to the Pakistan Pottery Manufacturers Association president, Chaudhary Zuman, the rate was nearly quadrupled in the new invoices received by manufacturing facilities in Gujrat, which startled the local business.


He claimed that the Gujrat-based pottery units were household cottage industries, as some major production facilities had already been closed owing to the worst business conditions. “The new gas pricing may now result in the closure of the cottage industry as well.”


He stated that the PPMA has resolved to hold a sit-in outside Parliament House if the rise was not removed.

According to him, some local glass factories have already shuttered due to the high cost of doing business.

The PPMA general secretary, Raja Waqas Ahmed, stated that such a rise in gas tariff had never been seen before. “The government paid exorbitant prices for RLNG in the foreign market, but the local industry was unable to withstand such pressure.”


He stated that businesses were forced to raise the cost of their products due to the increase in gas prices, but the local sector may not be able to compete with Chinese items in terms of pricing. Gujrat is home to at least 150 pottery production units, employing over 25,000 people, and hundreds of individuals are also involved in the trade of pottery items throughout the country.

The manufacturers have urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the situation and ask the gas pricing increase to be rescinded.

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