Chairman APTMA S M Tanveer has expressed concerns over suspension of 100MMCFD gas supply to the Punjab-based textile industry by the SNGPL since last seven days. He said suspension of gas supply to the Punjab-based textile industry over the long period is causing millions of dollars loss to the country, as the textile value chain is unable to meet commitments on orders relating to back to school season in Europe and US after Christmas.
S M Tanveer said the SNGPL had especially allocated 100MMCFD gas supply to the Punjab-based textile industry on the direction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The Punjab-based textile millers had taken a deep sigh of relief, which has proven short-lived as the SNGPL has withdrawn the supply seven days back, he added.
According to him, a direct outcome of the crisis like situation has resulted into closure of one shift at the mills and thousands of textile workers are jobless across the Punjab. Especially, he said, the situation has become worst for the Punjab-based textile industry due to simultaneous electricity load shedding in the province.
He said the textile exports are already dwindling down due to high uncertainty over the energy supply, being interrupted time and again over the last one year. Resultantly, the Punjab-based textile has failed to accrue the benefits of GSP plus from the EU in real terms so far, he added.
Chairman APTMA has appealed to the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Minister Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister Textile Abbas Khan Afridi and Minister Petroleum & Natural Resources to take stock of the situation and ensured immediate restoration of gas supply to the Punjab-based textile industry in the larger interest of country's exports.