All Punjab Textile Associations Council has demanded of the government, the opposition and leaders of all political parties for inclusion of equal distribution rights of gas in proposed 20th constitutional amendment for industrial and economic development in the country. This demand was raised by Rana Arif Tauseef, Regional Chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) while addressing a press conference at PTEA.
Rana Arif said the overall growth in textile exports in first half of the current fiscal posted a negative growth of 4.68 per cent, as it touched $5.96 billion in July-December this year from $6.25 billion over the corresponding period last year. The graph of textile exports was continuously going down as textile exports in last three months were $578 million short and likely to lose another $250 to $300 million in January. He said severe shortage of gas has almost devastated the manufacturing and industrial sectors rendering export units dysfunctional and this situation is resulting in the loss of production and cancellation of export orders.
Emphasising the importance of conducive industrial promotion and productivity augmentation conditions in the country, PTEA chairman said to keep the industrial wheel running and providing maximum job employment to working hands in the country, it was imperative to facilitate the optimum industrial activity. Rana Arif vehemently appealed to political leadership to remove injustice and disequilibrium of distribution of natural resources among the provinces caused by the 18th constitutional amendment. Due to this unnatural and unjust distributive system, the exports and industries of the country were suffering heavily, particularly in Punjab. He demanded of the political leadership of the country to remove this constitutional hurdle for promotion of industrial and economic activities in the Punjab and directly linked this problem with the economic growth of the province.
Shahzad Siddique Ch, Vice Chairman PTEA, Qamar Aftab, Vice Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (N Z), Khalid Mahmood Cheema, Chairman All Pakistan Cotton Power Looms Association, Mian Nadim Ashfaq Puri, Chairman All Pakistan Embroidery Association, Imran Mehmood, Vice Chairman All Pakistan Bed Sheets and Upholstery Manufacturers Association, Rana Muhammad Amin, Chairman Small Power looms Association, Waheed Khaliq Raamay, Chairman Council of Loom Owners Association, and Mian Ajmal Farooq of All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association were also present in the press conference.
