President discusses textile industry issues with APTMA
25 Apr '12
2 min read
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari discussed several problems faced by the country's textile industry with representatives of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), including the gas supply situation and the proposed cotton procurement plan.
During their meeting, APTMA delegates apprised the President that despite an assurance of gas supply for five days in a week, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is supplying gas for only four days per week, which is badly affecting the industry.
Responding to APTMA's contentions, SNGPL representatives stated that gas supply has been cut to four days a week owing to some ongoing maintenance work. However, as the maintenance work gets completed in the first week of May, gas supply would be restored to five days a week, they said.
The President then directed SNGPL to work out a plan to ensure five-days a week gas supply to the industrial sector, including the textile industry, commencing from first week of May.
At the meeting, the President also discussed the cotton procurement plan, which was opposed by the APTMA representatives, who are seeking continuation of the free trade mechanism for cotton in local market.
The APTMA delegation stated that if any support price is fixed for cotton procurement, it would cause panic in the market. The procurement of cotton would also result in increased burden on the national exchequer, as presently world markets are not showing positive movement, the President was told.
APTMA representatives said that though the state has an option to export extra cotton if the same is not consumed domestically, fixation of support price and procurement would have an adverse impact on the free trade mechanism.