Web Desk, October 16, 2025
Karachi: Industrialists have launched a fierce protest against exorbitant gas bills, announcing their decision to shut down factories amid claims that current conditions make operations unsustainable.
Karachi Chamber President Rehan Hanif stated that gas bills have descended like thunderbolts on industrialists, forcing several exporters to close their factories. He warned, “Our economy cannot afford strikes and sit-ins.”
Former KCCI President Javed Bilwani revealed that multiple multinational companies are exiting Pakistan, while gas utilities are pressuring OGRA to lower rates. He noted, “Gas consumption in the country is continuously declining, and statistics show a drop in exports as well.” Bilwani added that business costs have escalated so much that operating abroad is now easier.
Businessmen Group Chairman Zubair Motiwala highlighted that industrialists installed captive power plants on government advice, only to face hikes in gas prices. “In such conditions, the government complains why exports aren’t increasing, while industrialists are drowning in problems day by day,” he remarked
