Acute energy crisis has crippled the textile industry altogether, left with no option but to close one-third production due to non-availability of gas and electricity. Textile industry is left at the mercy of adverse circumstances where low pressure of gas has resulted into three and a half days gas supply to textile units in a week both in region-I (Lahore) and region-II (Faisalabad, Multan and Islamabad). The industry is presently running on 50 percent shortage of gas for its production units.
It may be noted that the Prime Minister had directed the gas authorities to ensure five days a week gas supply to industry, which proved ineffective due to abysmal low pressure on supply side. The textile units were relying upon the PEPCO feeders in the absence of gas supply. However, the industry is even deprived of the electricity with the start of canal desilting programme, started from December 26, 2010 until January 31, 2011.
The industry fears that the PEPCO would withdraw exemption from load shedding with reduction in hydel generation during the desilting programme a big blow to the industry.
The textile millers have no option but to convene emergency meetings to design strategies as how to avoid the situation, which seems impossible in the face of burgeoning energy crisis. Interestingly, the industry has already suffered 100 days gas load shedding during last summer, first time in the history of textile industry, as it usually suffers from gas load shedding during winter due to low pressure. Electricity shortage has been adding salt to industry miseries throughout the summer. There was a partial relief in recent past when PEPCO extended it exemption from load shedding, likely to be withdrawn soon.
The industry sources said that acute energy shortage is translating into swelled losses with every passing day. They said closure of one shift is also hitting the textile labour hard amidst highest-ever inflation in the country. Meanwhile, the industry sources said three fertiliser units in Punjab are likely to go on annual maintenance from early January for a period of one month. They said gas supply to industry can be improved with closure of fertiliser units and chances are high that Prime Minister's directions of five days a week gas supply to textile industry would be implemented in true letter and spirit.