All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab Chairman Ahsan Bashir has expressed serious concerns over unprecedented gas supply suspension for textile industry in Punjab, saying the textile industry was denied gas for 77 days in 2008-09, followed by 100 days in 2009-10 and160 days in 2010-11.
He said this strident increase in number of days for non-availability of gas is limiting capacity utilisation, viability and growth of textile industry in Punjab. He said the gas supply cut for 160 days in 2010-11 has affected 50 per cent capacity of textile industry in Punjab. The industry has no alternate option to run its operation. Electricity shortage recently surged to 50 per cent. To run industry on alternate fuel including diesel and furnace oil is not a viable proposition, he added.
