Gas curtailment: 'Textile sector faces ruination'

Slamming the government's policy on gas supply, Value-added Textile Forum on Saturday said this policy is ruining the already overburdened textile export sector. "The policy of the government relating to gas is unfortunately ruining the already overburdened industrial sector, especially the vital textile export sector," said Chief Co-ordinator, Value Added Textile Forum Jawed Bilwani.
He demanded of the government to supply gas on a special priority to the industrial sector, saying the country's manufacturing sector provides huge employment and earns precious foreign exchange for the exchequer. He said globally, industrial sector is placed first on the list of government policies, but in Pakistan the situation is quite different as the government at the expense of export manufacturing sector fosters the CNG sector by supplying gas.
"Nowhere in the world the industries are discouraged and crushed like our country where the government is out to ruin the industry by cutting supply of gas to the CNG sector," he added. He said the governments in regional countries are providing all key facilities, incentives to their manufacturing sectors, besides an adequate energy supply.
Bilwani said the country could not afford rise in the existing unemployment and warned the closures of industrial units because of gas cuts. "The situation would badly hit jobs and could lead to a serious law and order situation," he added. He proposed that for winter season the tariff of gas should be raised in proportion to diesel prices to protect the passengers from unjustified fare hike.
"Transporters are running their vehicles on CNG but charging fares on the basis of diesel price, therefore, the CNG price should be increased in winters to discourage transporters and help save gas for industrial and household use," Bilwani said. He said industrial sector including textile is the backbone of the national economy, which is facing "severest-ever shortage of energy." He said gas shortage has forced a large number of industrial units to close production, hence massive relocation by investors.