MULTAN, Feb Ist: President Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI),Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan has expressed his concern on the price hike of petroleum product describing it unjust and too high which may affect the entire economy.In a press statement issued here on Monday Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan said that fresh prices of POL would bring a new wave of price hike because transport fare, frieght would increase and PEPCO also add the feul adjustment charges which would cripple the business activities in the country.MCCI Monday strongly protested against an increase by ten percent and said that we were already protesting against an increase of 12 percent in power tariff and 26 percent increase in natural gas tariff from January 2010 as it would kill the industry and put unbearable burden on the common man.President MCCI suggested that other viable options could be explored with mutual efforts to improve country's revenue generation capacity.He said it would have a detrimental impact on industrial sector apart from adding to the miseries of consumers who are already overburdened.The MCCI chief said dollar has depreciated in the international market, oil prices were again falling, interest rate and inflation have come down and in wake of these indicators, there is no justification to increase the gas tariff.He also criticized government's approach of taking unilateral decisions on matters, which directly affect businessmen, and stressed that government, should consult all stakeholders for developing consensus on key decisions.Utility tariffs in Pakistan were already one of the highest in the region, putting the country at a great disadvantage in exports against its regional competitors while the proposed electricity and gas tariff hike would almost push Pakistan out of competition.He said the recent Trade Policy had targeted 6 percent growth in exports while the last four months trading trend has shown 9 percent fall in exports.How the government would achieve export targets by making power more costly, which was a key input in production activities. The MCCI president said business sector in Pakistan is already in hot waters due to multiple factors including security issues, energy crisis, high interest rates, squeezing credit facilities and dwindling exports while further increase in power tariff would add fire to the fuel endangering the survival of trade and industry in the country.He stressed upon the government to work out long-term plans for energy solution and revenue generation.