According to the association, the dues have been pending for over a year despite repeated reminders, causing financial strain for the industry.
In a statement, PVMA Chairman Sheikh Umer Rehan said that ghee and cooking oil mills across the country had already supplied products worth Rs6.5 billion to USC, but the non-payment of dues created a serious liquidity crisis for the manufacturers.
“Industrialists are facing capital shortages in meeting operational expenses and the import of raw materials, disrupting production processes,” he said and cautioned that if the issue was not resolved promptly, the sustainability of the entire industry could be at risk.
The association chairman emphasised that the issue was not only an industrial concern but also the one that would affect the credibility of the government. He noted that the association had been raising the matter with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industries and the Ministry of Commerce for the past one year, yet no practical action had been taken. “The continued delay in payments has eroded business confidence and fueled uncertainty in the economy,” he added.
Umer Rehan appealed to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan to take personal notice of the issue, initiate an inquiry and ensure swift disbursement of the outstanding amount.
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 was the government’s responsibility to make timely payments to support the sector’s stability and contribution to economic growth.