Dr. Asim Hussain, the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, has announced a decision to increase gas supply to textile industries in Pakistan's Punjab from the existing two days per week to four days per week within the next few days.
The announcement has been hailed by the industrialists and business community of the province.
The decision to enhance the gas supply was arrived at during a high-profile meeting at the Chief Minister's House, which was attended by representatives of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), among others.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister constituted a special committee to coordinate with the Federal Minister for Petroleum over the gas supply to textile mills in Punjab.
Over 15 million jobs and exports of around US$ 14 billion are at stake following continued gas suspension to Punjab textile industries.
As about 60 percent of the textile industries in the province operate with gas, suspension of gas supply means a halt in production in almost 50 percent of the industry, resulting in a substantial loss in foreign exchange earnings of the country.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India