Heavy production & job losses in Pakistan textile sector

27 Sep '12

2 min read

Spokesman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has said that industry has incurred over Rs3 billion production loss besides rendering millions of workers jobless due to sudden cut in gas supply Tuesday night.

It may be noted that the SNGPL had suspended gas supply to textile industry due to close of Qadirpur gas field.

He has further criticized the Ministry of Water and Power for cutting electricity supply to industry during last 24 hours in order to meet domestic shortage.

APTMA spokesman lamented that bureaucracy was, as a matter of fact, negating the pro-industry policy of the government, as it is meeting energy shortage by cutting supplies to industry.

According to him, the bureaucracy was following anti-industry approach, leaving the economy and future of millions of workers clueless in the country.

He said the Captive Power Plants (CPPs) of textile industry were already facing supply shortages, as the SNGPL was supplying gas for five days a week against industry demand of round the clock supply.

Meanwhile, he said, the Ministry of Water and Power has dug out easy way of meeting domestic shortage of electricity by denying uninterrupted supply to textile units on independent feeders. The Industry was already facing power load shedding for eight hours a day and present complete supply cut would push them to brink of disaster in case the Ministry failed to review its anti-industry approach.

He pointed out that the crime rate has shot up unprecedented due to high unemployment rate, particularly in the province of Punjab.

APTMA spokesman said that the textile industry was the biggest employer and foreign exchange earner, but still it is being extended a step-motherly treatment by the utility agencies and departments.

He has urged the President, Prime Minister & Minister for Water and Power and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources to take immediate stock of the situation and ensure uninterrupted power and gas supply to textile industry in the larger interest of national economy.

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA)

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