APTMA chairman criticises SNGPL for gas woes

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab Shahzad Ali Khan has criticized the SNGPL for suspending gas supply to textile industry for indefinite period, saying that it is anti-industry and anti-worker action and detrimental to country exports.

He said the SNGPL has suspended gas supply to industrial sector for indefinite period on account of severe winter across the country, increasing city loads on its network due to enhanced consumption by domestic sector. It has further stated that reduced supplies from sources have further deteriorated the situation therefore the SNGPL has left with no option except to suspend gas supply of industrial sector on its network till improvement of the system, he added.

Shahzad Ali Khan has said the industry is totally confused as how to keep its viability intact in such a crisis like situation, as the industry is also announced/ unannounced facing six to eight hours a day load shedding on independent feeders.

According to him, the industry is left with other option but to lay off millions of workers due to closure of 50 percent of the production capacity. The industry is capable to produce a billion dollar exportable products on monthly basis but energy crisis has put its upside down, he said.

He further pointed out that the industry was losing its credibility fast among exporting destinations and orders of millions of dollars are being shifted to other regional competitors. The industrial viability is under serious threat as the industry feasibility has been constituted on 365 days a year without a disruption of single moment. There is high need of resetting the priority of energy supply in the country in the larger interest of national economy, exports and employment, as over three million workers are directly affected due to closure of one shift production on daily basis, he added.

Chairman APTMA has urged the President, Prime Minister, and Minister for Water and Power, Minister for Textile Industry and Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources to take stock of the situation and intervene immediately in the larger interest of the country. The government should direct the SNGPL to resume gas supply to textile industry without any delay to save country exports and employment at large, he added.