Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association Central Chairman Khalil Qaisar Shams Guccha has said that for achieving the export target of $ 26 billions, regular supply of gas to textile industry on preferential basis was most essential.
Talking to newspersons on Saturday, he said the textile exports earn 50 per cent of total foreign exchange for the country. The exports for the last five month were continuously recording negative figures. He said that yarn was major export earner in textile sector and was also one of the major raw materials for value-added sectors like home textile, garments and hosiery. Besides tarn, gas was major input of dyeing, printing and processing in value-added sectors. Without gas the value added sectors were enable to manufacture and exports their products, he added. It was in this context that they were demanding continuous supply of gas to textile industry on preferential basis, he stated.
Delineating on gas supply and demand position in the country, the PYMA chairman said that presently the country was producing four billion cubic feet per day Gas while the demand stood between 6 to 7 BCFD. There was thus a gap of more than two BSCD or about 43 per cent. To cope with shortage, the government should look to alternate means like use of solar panels and wind mills for secondary industry or for commercial users of gas, he said. Furthermore, the prices of fuel oil in international market have drastically come down and are expected to slide in coming months. Thus the furnace oil and diesel have become comparatively cheaper and can be advantageously used by secondary sectors.
By proper management and judicious manner, the government can overcome the winter shortage and ensure supply of gas to export-oriented textile industry to achieve the export target of Dollar 26 billion, he concluded.
