The Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) has expressed resentment against breach of agreement by Sui Northern Gas Pipeline load shedding of gas for consecutive three days a week instead of agreed two days. This arbitrary shutdown of almost half-week working days would severely disturb the productivity of industrial units and default export shipment schedule of textile exporters said a spokesman of the Association talking to newsmen here today.
The gas administrators had worked out an agreed schedule with the industry to revolve the gas load shedding two days a week, he said and added that the industrialists and exporters had accordingly scheduled their production and made commitments with foreign buyers to ship consignments on time. But all of a sudden, the duration of gas load shedding has been increased arbitrarily for three days a week without consultation and without prior notice, he said. This half-week closure will cut down drastically the manufacturing of export goods, and exporters would not be able to fulfil their commitments to foreign buyers, he added.
The spokesman lamented the unfortunate gas shortage at this crucial midway juncture of current fiscal year when the country's exports are already under huge pressure due to shortage as also high prices of raw material as a result of export of cotton and cotton yarn. The industrial and manufacturing woes have been further aggravated by large scale electricity load shedding which disrupts the production activity in addition to gas shutdown, he said.
The PTEA's spokesman ascribed the gas and electricity load shedding to mismanagement, lack of appropriate planning, irresponsibility and inefficiency of the management and administration of the utility service suppliers. With proper consultation and by taking the stakeholders and industrial consumers in confidence, a viable and suitable load management and revolving schedule of gas could be worked out and the period of acute shortage could be tied over through mutual arrangement.
He said that Pakistan is in dire need of enhancing exports to provide some cushion to its sagging economy. However, due to these factors, exports are suffering right from the beginning of current financial year as during the period of July to December, export proceeds remained 3.0 percent short of same period of previous year. Pakistan exported $9.190 billion worth of goods against export of $9.474 billion of previous year and recorded a shortfall of $284 million.
He urged the government to take urgent cognisance of this serious matter of national importance and immediately intervene on behalf of textile sector and ensure optimum supply of gas to industry to enable the exporters to fulfil their commitments with foreign buyers failing which the country would lose not only the much wanted precious foreign exchange but also export markets which will be captured by rival countries.
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