Interviews
APTMA concerned over severe gas shortage in Punjab
20 Oct '11
2 min read
Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab Ahsan Bashir has expressed serious concerns over unprecedented gas supply suspension for textile industry in Punjab, saying the textile industry was denied gas for 77 days in 2008-09, followed by 100 days in 2009-10 and160 days in 2010-11.
He said this strident increase in number of days for non-availability of gas is limiting capacity utilization, viability and growth of textile industry in Punjab.
He said the gas supply cut for 160 days in 2010-11 has affected 50% capacity of textile industry in Punjab. The industry has no alternate option to run its operation. Electricity shortage recently surged to 50%. To run industry on alternate fuel including diesel and furnace oil is not a viable proposition, he added.
Ahsan said the textile industry was making a direct contribution of 55% to the country's exports, providing jobs to 15 million workforce and a backward linkage to the agriculture sector of the country.
Chairman APTMA Punjab said a priority to the textile industry on gas availability is prerequisite to smooth functioning during forthcoming winter. The government should divert all new-found gas fields including Kunar, Peshaki and Tando Allah Yar to the SNGPL network, facing acute gas shortage in the Punjab, he stressed.
He said the government has already proved its pro-industry approach by facilitating it in the past and time has come to reiterate the gesture in coming winter.
According to him, an expeditious import of 500MMCFD LNG is also a just demand of APTMA, as it would considerably overcome gas shortage for textile industry and facilitate other economic usages.
Chairman APTMA Punjab has expressed fear that any further delay in principle decision of giving priority to textile industry for gas supply in winter would avoid massive lay off ahead. It becomes important further when one million workforce is entering the job market every year. He said that it is pertinent that all textile value chain will also be benefited if textile industry is operational during winter.
He said this strident increase in number of days for non-availability of gas is limiting capacity utilization, viability and growth of textile industry in Punjab.
He said the gas supply cut for 160 days in 2010-11 has affected 50% capacity of textile industry in Punjab. The industry has no alternate option to run its operation. Electricity shortage recently surged to 50%. To run industry on alternate fuel including diesel and furnace oil is not a viable proposition, he added.
Ahsan said the textile industry was making a direct contribution of 55% to the country's exports, providing jobs to 15 million workforce and a backward linkage to the agriculture sector of the country.
Chairman APTMA Punjab said a priority to the textile industry on gas availability is prerequisite to smooth functioning during forthcoming winter. The government should divert all new-found gas fields including Kunar, Peshaki and Tando Allah Yar to the SNGPL network, facing acute gas shortage in the Punjab, he stressed.
He said the government has already proved its pro-industry approach by facilitating it in the past and time has come to reiterate the gesture in coming winter.
According to him, an expeditious import of 500MMCFD LNG is also a just demand of APTMA, as it would considerably overcome gas shortage for textile industry and facilitate other economic usages.
Chairman APTMA Punjab has expressed fear that any further delay in principle decision of giving priority to textile industry for gas supply in winter would avoid massive lay off ahead. It becomes important further when one million workforce is entering the job market every year. He said that it is pertinent that all textile value chain will also be benefited if textile industry is operational during winter.
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA)
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