Textile production is likely to decline by 30 to 35 percent due to ongoing gas loadshedding, it is learnt. Gas crisis has worsened in the country and the industry is suffering a loss of $1.52 billion per month, informed sources revealed to Business Recorder.
An important meeting was scheduled to be held in Lahore on Wednesday between the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources and All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), however the meeting was postponed till Friday to be held in the Presidency.
Sources revealed that the industry was getting gas for only four days, but low gas pressure has led to complete shut down of textile industry.
Textile industry's representatives argued that it should be given priority in terms of gas supply as its contribution to foreign exchange earning through exports was significant.
They further said that they would have no other option but to go on strike if gas was not restored to the units. The suspension of gas supply is hurting textile exports and putting the jobs of their workers at risk. More than 600 industrial units including processing, printing, sizing, dyeing units, hosiery, and chemical manufacturing plants remained closed due to gas loadshedding.
Sources said that Ministry of Petroleum was ready to discuss the issue of gas loadshedding, however APTMA representatives preferred to hold the meeting in the presence of President Asif Ali Zardari who is currently in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Therefore now the meeting between the Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry is expected to be held in the Presidency on Friday to resolve the gas loadshedding issue.
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