LAHORE: The importers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on Thursday warned of a complete shutterdown and wheel-jam strike from March 1 if the additional levy of Rs4,669 per tonne was imposed on LPG imports via land route as proposed by the Ministry of Planning & Development.

This illogical proposal of Rs4,669 per tonne tax on LPG coming from the land route to Pakistan should be withdrawn immediately, said LPG Industries Association Chairman Irfan Khokhar at a joint press conference. He was accompanied by LPG Companies and Importers Association of Pakistan President Sheikh Amir Nadeem and All Pakistan LPG Transport Association Chief Sheikh Ayaz Ahmed.

The LPG association representatives asserted that LPG shops and plants will be closed down and fuel tankers from Khyber to Karachi will remain off the road on March 1 if the proposed move is implemented.

The enraged LPG sector leaders said the planning ministry has proposed to the Cabinet an additional levy of Rs4,669 per tonne on LPG coming from land to increase the Regulatory Duty. Those who import LPG by land pay 5.5 per cent Advance Income Tax.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2021