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Gas issue can affect $ 7bn exports

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According to Dr Baig here on Thursday, he told Petroleum Minister, in a recent meeting, that gas supply issue was badly effecting the production and causing textile industry financial losses to the tone of Rs. 80 billion.

He also informed Dr. Asim that the industries in Sindh were promised by SSGC to supply gas six days a week and to close on Sunday but the agreed arrangement was not implemented.

Dr. Asim attributed it to a blast in the gas pipeline at Jaffarabad, Balochistan which will take 3 to 4 days to repair. Dr. Baig said Dr Asim is meeting representatives of APTMA on Friday to resolve the issue of the gas supply by SNGPL to textile units in Punjab.

Dr. Baig expressed his fear that under the prevailing situation, performance of the textile sector which is the backbone of our economy will be affected and it will give negative impact in unemployment, exports and revenue collection.

Dr. Baig has also requested Minister Petroleum to implement the Cabinet decision to give second priority to the industry after residential consumers.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Pakistan Denim Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PDMEA) has told Federal Advisor on Textile that Pakistan can loose export orders worth $ 7 billion in next six months on account of closure of textile units due to gas supply issues.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011