Call For Withdrawal Of Hike In NHA Charges

(@rukhshanmir)

Call for withdrawal of hike in NHA charges

Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday demanded withdrawal of hike in the National Highway Authority (NHA) charges including the no-objection certificate (NOC) fee, Approach Rentals and Security

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jan, 2019 ) :Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday demanded withdrawal of hike in the National Highway Authority (NHA) charges including the no-objection certificate (NOC) fee, Approach Rentals and Security.

LCCI President Almas Hyder told media persons here that industry cannot afford the increase that is bound to jack-up the cost of doing business and promote uncompetitiveness of the local industry.

He mentioned that recently, National Highway Authority has made hundred per cent increase in the NOC Fee, Rentals and Security for grant of NOC to use NHA Rights of Way (ROW) as approaches by industrial units established and to be established within NHA network.

Almas Hyder elaborated that now industrial factory/mills/plant established within one acre of land along NHA network/connected through approach road will have to pay Rs 2 million one time NOC Fee, Rs 50,000 per year approach rentals and refundable security of Rs 100,000. Industrial factory/mills/plant established on 1.1 to 3 acre of land will have to pay 3 million one time NOC fee, Rs 100,000 approach rentals per year and a refundable security of Rs 500,000. Industrial unit/factory/mills/plant established on 3.1 to 5 acres will have to pay Rs 4 million one time NOC fee, Rs 100,000 approach rentals per year and Rs 500,000 refundable security. Industrial unit/factory/mills/plant established on 5.1 to 10 acres of land will pay Rs 6 million NOC fee, Rs 150,000 approach rentals per year and Rs 500,000 refundable security.

Likewise, Industrial unit/factory/mills/plant established on 10.1 and above acre of land will have to pay Rs 8 million NOC fee, Rs 200,000 approach rentals per year and Rs 500,000 refundable security.

LCCI President said that in the year 2004, NOC/Registration was Rs 20,000, Annual Approach Rentals Rs. 15,000 and Cash Security Refundable was Rs 50,000. He added that comparison of the above rates revealed that the Fee for grant of NOC to use NHA Rights of Way as approaches by the industrial units has witnessed an increase from Rs 20,000 in year 2004 to Rs 8 million in the year 2018. Similarly other fees and charges have been increased.

Almas Hyder said that fanciful and massive increase in National Highway Authority's NOC fee, Approach Rentals and Security will give a big blow to the industrial sector which is already stumbling because of high cost of doing business.

He said that at a time when economy is passing through a critical time, industrial sector needs supportive measures by NHA and other relevant departments so that it can bring much-needed foreign exchange into the country by enhancing exports.

LCCI President hoped that Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed and Chairman National Highway Authority will take notice of the issue and take a decision in favor of the industrial sector by brining down the NHA fees.