Amid warnings from the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA), ghee and cooking oil prices in the country could surge to record levels.
PVMA President Umar Rehan Sheikh has strongly opposed the deployment of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers in ghee mills and announced that, if their demands are not met by Friday, ghee and oil mills nationwide will shut down indefinitely.
Sheikh clarified that the strike will not be symbolic or short-term. Instead, it will continue indefinitely, with the supply of ghee and cooking oil across the country suspended from Friday if negotiations fail. He urged the government to immediately withdraw the FBR’s strict measures and implement business-friendly policies to ensure the industry’s continued operation.
The FBR has stationed officials at ghee mills across Pakistan under Section 40B of the Sales Tax Act, which has sparked panic in the industry.
In addition to the withdrawal of Section 40B, the association is also demanding the abolition of Section 37A, an end to mandatory digital invoicing, and the removal of the condition requiring banking transactions of up to Rs 200,000.
Industry representatives warn that any disruption in the supply of ghee and cooking oil will not only worsen inflation but also disrupt the supply chain, directly affecting the general public.
