All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) would be on protest against gas suspension from Wednesday (today). Group Leader APTMA Gohar Ejaz and Chairman APTMA Punjab Ahsan Bashir told a big gathering of print and electronic media persons that thousands of textile workers' protest would be followed by sit-in if the SNGPL failed to restore gas supply to textile industry forthwith.
The very first APTMA protest would be held at the Multan Road near Manga Mandi, likely to be intensified with every passing day until gas is restored. Gohar said immediate solution to the problem is to stop CNG gas supplies for three months and reduce the rate of petrol by 50 percent for one month to facilitate motorists. He said 50 percent of this gas be given to the textile sector and 50 percent to the gas run IPPs. He said the saving in power generation cost alone would compensate the government subsidy on petrol.
He also lamented over indifferent attitude of the policymakers, saying the APTMA was pushed to the wall leaving with no option but to close down operations and start protest against injustice.
He said the APTMA tried to avoid confrontation and it was ready to even 3.5 days of gas supplies by the SNGPL. But all in vein, as the SNGPL is in total denial on gas supply to industry leading to a huge unrest among the workers. They know that the industry cannot run without gas and they would have to go home if gas supply remained erratic. He said the entrepreneurs have now decided to join hands with their workers and start agitation.
Chairman APTMA Punjab Ahsan Bashir said the billion dollars industry was on lowest priority of the government that has put the future of millions of workers' jobs. He said the SNGPL authorities have stated categorically about non-availability of gas to Punjab industries throughout January, which means huge unemployment ahead. 'The rulers want to appease the CNG owners that brought few thousand workers on road to show their muscle, he deplored.
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