Gas closure to textile industry: 'jobs of 15 million workers at stake'

President Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DGCCI) Muhammad Anees Khawaja has said that the textile industry has suffered a loss of Rs 100 billion due to suspension of gas supply to the industry. Now the jobs of 15 million industrial workers were at stake, he said while addressing a press conference, here on Tuesday.
He said that the gas supply to the industry and captive power plants (CPPs) in Punjab had been cut off since December 25 and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) had ruled out its restoration during this month. The utility has actually indicated that gas suspension to the industry could continue till end of February. He also alleged that Punjab was being discriminated in distribution gas and called for equitable sharing of available gas among the federating units and sectors of the economy.
He said the textile industry in Punjab was under severe stress due to gas cuts. He said the closure of $14 billion industry meant loss of 15 million jobs. He said that Aptma leadership was forced to come out to the streets to protect the jobs and exports of the country.
Khawaja said that the government had announced on January 7 that gas supply to all stakeholders would be restored from January 11 in Punjab. Later this date was extended to January 15 but this date was merely a lip service. He had feared that export target of $15 billion would not be achievable if gas closure to the industry remained continued. He also demanded of the government to restore gas supply to the industry.
Khawaja said the textile sector was the backbone of economy and it should be strengthened. He said last year the textile sector exports were more than $15 billion and this year they were expecting $16 billion exports but due to gas suspension the target could not be achieved.
Pakistani exports declined by 11 percent during the month of December 2011 as compared to corresponding period of last year. "If the gas closure continued then we would not be able to achieve export target of $15 billion." He said last year till November gas closure was for 75 days, but this year the gas closure during the same period was for 120 days. "Adding add to the injuries, now the government is talking about gas closure till March, which would be catastrophic for the textile sector," he said.