All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) chairman Mohsin Aziz said textile industry should be exempted from gas load shedding in the larger interest of national economy. Reacting to the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) decision of continuing with three days a week gas curtailment for textile industry, Chairman APTMA said gas curtailment of textile industry is already inhibiting its export target and growth potential. According to him, textile industry has employed 15 million workforce and it had achieved $14 billion exports during 2010-11 and intending to take it to $20 billion during current fiscal year. He said 80 per cent of textile industry is dependent on gas-based captive power plants. Mohsin said the country needs an immediate push to exports in a situation when trade deficit has crossed over 30 per cent. This trade deficit could only be overcome through increase in textile exports. APTMA chairman said the textile industry is already facing financial crunch, leading to bankruptcies in the industry. A gas load shedding for three days for textile industry is fatal to the growth of industry as well as exports of the country, he added. Mohsin said the textile industry has already been deprived of gas for 120 days during the ongoing calendar year. He said the ECC should review its decision and announce exemption from gas load shedding for textile industry without delay. If it is not possible immediately, he added, the government should reduce gas load shedding for textile industry from three days to two days a week. This would strengthen its potential of achieving $20 billion exports and keep the jobs of 15 million employees intact in the country.
