Spokesman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has strongly rejected gas curtailment for three days a week by the SNGPL unilaterally from September 17.
He has termed it negation to the earlier arrangement of uninterrupted five days a week gas supply to the textile industry assured both by the President of Pakistan and Federal Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources.
The APTMA spokesman expressed the fear that present curtailment of gas would lead to huge production loss to the textile industry. This is high time for the textile industry to secure export orders for winter and fall season in the western markets. The textile industry, therefore, cannot afford to suspend its operations due to non-availability of gas, he added.
According to him, the gas supply suspension, besides affecting exports, would also cause job losses to the textile workers.
He said as the government has decided to pull out from the IMF programme, it is therefore imperative to let textile industry perform to earn foreign exchange to maintain balance of payment. The curtailment of gas in this critical situation is likely to hit textile industry's potential to perform.
Furthermore, said the spokesman, the industry is hesitant to take decision for cotton procurement in the wake of gas curtailment by the SNGPL. Floods affected farmers are badly in need of cash to pay back the expenses incurred on cotton sowing. A closure of textile mills for three days in this situation would hurt farmers' interest and cause a setback to the whole textile value chain in the country.
APTMA spokesman has urged the higher authorities to direct the SNGPL for immediately reverting back to five days a week uninterrupted gas supply to the industry.
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA)
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