'Energy crisis is a planned conspiracy against industry'

RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: The leaders of the Textile Associations have stated that the energy crisis in Pakistan is a planned conspiracy against industry, business and economy of the country. On the one hand India is being given most favoured nation status and opened border for trade, on the other hand the manufacturing sector is being closed down for indefinite period by gas authorities and long ours electricity loadshedding by Wapda.

In a joint press conference, the speakers alleged that the integrity, freedom and economy of Pakistan has been bargained with India and monopoly groups in the government are looting wealth of the nation by the both hands, while millions of peoples have become beggars for gas, electricity, food and employment.

Qamar Aftab, Vice Chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (North Zone) said that government has totally failed to resolve energy crisis and stopped gas supply to the Value Added and labour intensive industries for indefinite period breaching all his previous commitments and assurances rendering millions of workers jobless.

He said that the survival of the countries always rely on sound economy, hence it was in the greater national interest, government should reshape its policy of indefinite gas shedding for industries and provide a chance to industry to flourish to save investment of $27 billion and millions jobs. He pointed out that gas shedding schedule is ill devised and is outcome of shoddy mismanagement on part of the government by establishing CNG stations and ignoring foreign exchange earning sectors.

Mian Aftab Ahmad, Regional Chairman, All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) said the present rulers are playing havoc with the export oriented textile industry and allied vendors. Pakistani textile exports and manufacturing were already under great pressure being the competitive in world markets and if the exporters could not meet their export consignments and supply deadlines, the buyers would be disappointed and exporters would be thrown out of their hard won traditional markets, he warned.

Muzzamal Sultan, President, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Imran Mehmood, Vice Chairman APBUMA, Zia Alamdar senior member PHMA, Waheed Khaliq Ramay, Chairman, Council of loom Owners Association, Azhar Majeed Sheikh, Chairman, Khurrianwala Industrial Estate, Dr. Khurram Tariq and other leaders said that government have not taken into confidence any stake holder before taking this drastic action, which would not only deprive Pakistan of 14 billion foreign exchange but also fomenting unprecedented unemployment and further deteriorating law and order situation in the country.