All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman Gohar Ejaz has said that the textile industry in Punjab desperately needs gas supply five days a week from 10th July onwards as promised by Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain.
In a press conference on Saturday, Gohar said that in case the gas supply was not restored the industry would not let the SNGPL disconnect gas supply. He said the APTMA members are not ready to continue with the current arrangement of gas supply three days a week because they need to secure their businesses and the future of 15 million work force.
Chairman APTMA said that for the first time in its history the textile industry is facing gas load shedding during summer season. This has reduced its production capacity by 43 per cent since April 2011. The CNG pumps, on the other hand, are being supplied with 24 percent additional gas during the same period in order to provide cheap fuel to cars. He said that despite the severe energy crisis the textile industry has outperformed all sectors of economy by achieving record exports of $14 billion in 2010-11.
The industry has not blocked salaries of workers, bank markups and government taxes and levies for a single day despite odd factors of production. According to him, the industry is left with 1.6 million bales in inventory. Furthermore, there has been a 100 per cent decline in cotton prices in the international market with the new cotton season around the corner.
He said that the textile industry was told by the SNGPL authorities that it had extended Rs9 billion a month financial guarantee to four new IPPs in case gas supply is interrupted to them until June 30, 2011. The industry has cooperated with SNGPL patiently, he added. He also mentioned that on June 30 Dr Asim Hussain met APTMA members in Lahore and gave assurances with regards to restoring gas supply to five days a week from 10 July onwards.
The APTMA chairman said the textile millers would not let SNGPL officials disconnect their supplies for less than five days a week from today onwards and therefore the government should make arrangements to avoid any untoward situation, particularly in Punjab. Meanwhile, subsequent to the press conference of Chairman APTMA, the SGNPL authorities, on the directions of Federal Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain, communicated its decision to restore textile industry gas supply for five days a week from 10 July onwards.
