KARACHI : Chairman of the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA), Sheikh Umer Rehan,
has urged the government to ensure the immediate payment of Rs 6.5 billion owed by the Utility Stores
Corporation (USC) to ghee and cooking oil manufacturers. He said the dues have been pending for over
a year despite repeated reminders, causing severe financial strain on the industry.
Sheikh Umer Rehan said that ghee and cooking oil mills across the country had already supplied
products worth Rs 6.5 billion to the Utility Stores Corporation, but the non-payment of dues has created
a serious liquidity crisis for manufacturers. “Industrialists are facing capital shortages to meet
operational expenses and import raw materials, disrupting production processes,” he said, warning that
if the issue is not resolved promptly, the sustainability of the entire industry could be at risk.
Chairman PVMA emphasized that this issue is not only an industrial concern but also one that affects the
credibility of the government. He noted that the association has been raising the matter with the
Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industries and Commerce for the past year, yet no practical
action has been taken so far. “The continued delay in payments has eroded business confidence and
fueled uncertainty in the economy,” he added.
Sheikh Umer Rehan appealed to Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and the Prime
Minister’s Adviser on Industry and Commerce, Haroon Akhtar Khan, to take personal notice of the issue,
initiate an inquiry, and ensure swift disbursement of the outstanding payments.
He stressed that the ghee and cooking oil industry plays a vital role in ensuring the country’s food
security and employment continuity, adding that it is the government’s responsibility to make timely
payments to support the sector’s stability and contribution to national economic growth.
ADVERTISEMENT
