GUJRANWALA, Feb 8: The business community and local chamber of commerce and industry expressed resentment over increase in prices of POL products and tariff of electricity and gas by the government within a week and termed it disastrous for national economy.

The participants in a meeting presided over by chamber acting president Sheikh Muhammad Ali here on Tuesday criticized the government for increasing rates of all kinds of fuel - petrol, electricity and gas. They said with the increase in natural gas prices, the rate of CNG was also raised.

They said the government acting against it claims of providing conducive environment to local and foreign investors. They claimed that no foreigner would invest in Pakistan as production cost here was rising day by day.

They said it seemed that the government was increasing the poor instead of poverty alleviation as it claimed. They also ridiculed the government claim of being people friendly.

They said the increase in prices of POL products was unjustified as the rate of crude oil was falling in the global market.

They said comparison of prices of POL products with other countries in the region was unreasonable keeping in view the position of their economies and value of their currencies. They demanded that the increase in prices of all kinds of fuel should immediately be withdrawn.

UTILITY STORES: The Punjab government would set up more utility stores in Gujranwala and Sialkot districts to sell commodities, including ghee and flour, at low rates. This was stated by Punjab Food Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal at a meeting here on Tuesday.

He said the utility stores would be set up on the orders of the chief minister. A utility store has already been set up in Narowal district, he added.

A tin of 5-kilogram ghee would be sold at Rs280 instead of Rs325 at these stores. Similarly, a 20-kg flour bag would available at Rs234, he maintained.

He claimed that the government was providing better facilities to the people to resolve their problems.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS: The district government will erect more traffic signals and set up pick and drop points for commuters in the city area on the GT Road.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the District Transport Authority on Tuesday. District Coordination Officer Fazeel Asghar presided over the meeting, which was also attended by Regional Transport Authority Secretary Sikander Zulqernain, Executive District Officer (Works and Services) Zubair Imran Khwaja and DSP (Traffic) Najeeb Akram.

The participants were informed that traffic signals would be constructed at the Rawalpindi bypass intersection, General Bus Stand, Regent Cinema, Nigar Chowk and the Sialkot bypass intersection. The city tehsil council will carry out the project.

FOOD PROGRAMME: The last date for payment of the ninth instalment of the Food Support Programme to the destitute has been extended to April 4, according to Baitul Maal Committee district in-charge Asif Jehangir.