All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman Gohar Ejaz has proposed the government raise the price of CNG to the same level as petrol and diesel, to ensure that gas is consumed rationally and carefully as well as ensuring that Sui Northern Gas Pipeline (SNGPL) has adequate supplies.
He stressed that gas supplies for power generation should be suspended and the government should not renew the contract of supplying gas to IPPs in the next fiscal year. He suggested the government raise gas rates, lifting it up to the tariff of electricity to control gas shortage in the country.
It was noted that the textile industry suffered badly due to the ongoing energy crisis denying gas supply to textile units for three days a week. He said these steps would ensure the availability of gas for textile and other sectors. He said a balanced approach should be adopted for fixing the rates of gas and electricity.
“Maximum relief should be given to the industry so that the wheel of economy can turn,” he said adding the government should suspend gas supply to power producing plants and diverting gas to textile industrial units. He said that textile industry was the second priority of the government in view of gas supply after IPPs but it should be given its due share without any discrimination. He said the government should not renew contract of four IPPs in the next fiscal year.
“The Rs8 billion per month contract given to the four IPPs will expire on June 30 and the government should not renew it,” he said, adding the APTMA would adopt an appropriate course of action if the contract was renewed. He insisted that if the government priorities gas supply to the textile industry then 15 million jobs could be secured and $14 billion in exports during the current fiscal period are possible.
