The Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA) on Thursday criticised the recent federal government decisions and threatened to observe an indefinite strike if their demands were not met.

Speaking to the media, Association President Sheikh Umar Rehan opposed the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) decision to deploy officials at ghee mills.

Umar Sheikh said the decision has caused immense pressure on the industry and created an atmosphere of fear in the business community.

He also criticised Section 37A of the Sales Tax Act, the requirement for digital invoices, and said that the mandatory transactions of more than Rs2 lakh through banks were unacceptable to the industry.

Umar Rehan warned that if the government does not accept PVMA’s demands, ghee mills across the country will be closed for an indefinite period after Friday.

He said the strike will not be just for a day but for an indefinite period, and if the talks fail, the supply of ghee and oil across the country will be completely stopped.

The association demanded that the government immediately withdraw these conditions and adopt a business-friendly policy.

Any disruption in the ghee and cooking oil sector will not only increase inflation but also affect the supply chain, the effects of which will directly reach the common consumers.