Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab Ahsan Bashir has expressed a deep concern over the latest gas load management programme issued by the SNGPL, suggesting a gas supply suspension to textile industry for three days a week. Originally, he said, the SNGPL had assured APTMA of reverting back to twice a week suspension of gas supply after annual turn around (ATA) of gas fields, completed recently.
The APTMA kept on bearing with the situation throughout September on the hope that twice a week gas suspension would be restored in October. However, he lamented that the latest SNGPL schedule suggests gas supply suspension for three days a week and not two days a week. It has panicked the textile millers and workers alike across the Punjab, he added. He expressed the fear that closure of textile mills in winter due to gas shortage may lead to massive lay off, adding to the socio-economic problems of the society.
Further, he said, it would also cripple down the industry capacity to procure cotton crop from the growers. Chairman APTMA Punjab has urged the SNGPL management to immediately revert to two days gas supply suspension schedule as per their commitment with the APTMA in order to save textile industry from being ruined due to uncalled-for supply cuts.
