'Gas shortage will plunge upcountry textile exports into disaster'

Severe shortage of gas would plunge the upcountry textile exports into disaster, and closure of industrial units will bring jobless labour on the roads, causing industrial unrest and worsening law and order situation in the textile hub of Pakistan.
Apprehending negative impact of downslide in industrial production and likely export commitments default, Wasim Latif, Chairman of Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, told newsmen here on Wednesday that textile exports from upcountry, which were already under severe strain due to escalating cost of inputs and raise in prices of overhead items, have been dealt a deadly blow of closure of gas supply for four days in a week.
The gas shortage in conjunction with electricity shortage has forced a large number of industries and small and medium enterprises to close down. He said that this problem has resulted in the loss millions of jobs and is inflicting on the industrial sector alone an annual loss of over Rs 220 billion. Textile exporters are unable to export products timely and the buyers are losing confidence in Pakistani exporters, he said. Gas prices in the last couple of years have been raised by 73 percent. "As a result, our products are becoming uncompetitive in the international market and stoppage of gas has further increased problems of the industrialists and a large number of people, whose livelihood is associated with the industries".
He stressed that the government should work out solution to tackle this problem because along with hurting productivity a large number of daily wage workers are in deep trouble due to closure of industrial units. Wasim said that industrialisation plays an important role in the economic growth of a country that earns foreign exchange and also provides jobs to a large number of professional, technical people and labour force but in the absence basic fuels like gas and electricity, industrialist productivity and efficiency greatly hampers.
He emphasised that the government should take measures for supply of gas in consultation with industrialists to avoid bad law and order situation. He said that shortage of gas and electricity in the country is on the rise, which would result in the increase in number of sick industries, whereas Pakistan badly needs investment to run the wheel of the economy.
PTEA Vice Chairman said that gas is imperative to run the wheel of industry. But without its availability, no one could even think to run industry. He said that most of the industrial units in upcountry have been closed down and the remaining would also become unable to make production. He said that the output of the industrial sector declined sharply in 2010 owing to electricity and gas shortages. He said that if the leadership is unsuccessful in resolving the industrial problems on urgent basis, almost 30 percent industries might close down in 2011.
PTEA office-bearers warned that textile is the lifeline of Pakistan's economy but due to distorted priorities its base was gradually being eroded and the industry and exports were being crushed. He demanded of the government to accord preferential treatment to textile sector and save the industry and the economy from collapsing.