THURSDAY JANUARY 05:President assures industry early gas restoration

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari has assured All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) leadership of restoration of gas supply to the textile industry soon, and appealed to the textile industry workers, through Punjab Governor Latif Khosa to disperse peacefully.
He talked to Aptma leadership through telephone and assured them of resolving the gas supply issue at the earliest. Punjab Governor visited SNGPL office and joined Aptma leadership and textile workers in the sit-in for a while. Later on, addressing the protestors, he said that Petroleum Minister Asim Hussain, on the advice of President Zardari, would visit Aptma, Punjab, on Friday, January 6, to negotiate with textile industry leadership on gas supply on SNGPL network.
Earlier, a mammoth gathering of textile workers and industrialists at Manga-Raiwind Bypass protested against gas suspension to textile industry. The protestors blocked Multan Road for hours, followed by a march towards SNGPL head office in the centre of town. Pakistan textile industry's biggest cluster is situated at Manga-Raiwind Road, where the protest was held, attended by thousands of textile workers besides top Aptma leadership.
Textile workers were fully charged and kept on raising slogans against SNGPL throughout the protest. They also vowed not to let the SNGPL workers go out of head office until their demand for restoration of gas supply to industry was met. They were holding banners, placards and Pakistan flags. It was for the first time in the industrial history of the country that the textile millers and workers had staged a sit-in at SNGPL office for more than two hours. The SNGPL staff, including top management, remained stuck up in the head office building throughout the sit-in. Textile workers held candle lights in their hands immediately after sunset till dispersing after an assurance from the Punjab Governor.
Aptma leadership, including Aptma Chairman Mohsin Aziz, Aptma Punjab Chairman Ahsan Bashir, Aptma Group Leader Gohar Ejaz, Convenor Energy Committee Shahzad Ali Khan and others addressed the protesters. They demanded immediate restoration of gas supply to the 'leading employer', 'foreign exchange earner' from merchandise exports and 'major industry' of the country.
Fiery speakers pointed out that gas supply was disconnected to the industry since December 25, and no one would be allowed to keep gas supply disrupted any further. They said no one from among the textile workers was ready to die of hunger, very much likely with the closure of mills for long. They further added that the textile workers would not let anybody to turn industrial units into graveyards. They said it would be a series of protests to be demonstrated later at Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Kasur and Islamabad, if required. Aptma Chairman Mohsin Aziz said the protests aim at a single-point agenda of immediate restoration of gas to textile industry.