Business community urges govt to provide continuous gas supply to export units

KARACHI: The business community Thursday urged the government to provide gas 24/7 without any hurdle to the export sector of the country. Syed Usman Ali, Chairman South Circle of the Towel Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (TMA), invited renowned and veteran businessmen of the UBG panel, Khalid Tawab, Zubair Tufail, Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Ahmed Chinoy, Noor Ahmed Khan and Mazhar Nasir at TMA Head Office wherein a fruitful meeting was conducted for the benefit of export industry.

As per our understating, worldwide the export sector is given first priority in the economic activities and it is very surprising for the export sector that the Government granted 2nd priority to five zero-rated export sectors in the Natural Gas Load Management Policy, however, the zero-rated export sectors’ industries should be given first position to increase the production flourishing economic activities and fulfil the aim of the Government to enhance exports.

“The textile sector is the backbone of our economy as well as earning valuable foreign exchange for the national exchequer, generation of employment and enormous contribution in the taxes,” they said, adding that the ultimate result of the closure of gas will be negative impact on the export as well as face difficulties to equilibrium in balance of trade, enhancement in unemployment which will adverse impact on the law & order situation in the country, face huge problems to complete export order timely of their international buyers and also definitely lose valuable foreign exchange.

They pointed out that the government has approved textile Policy in February 2022 but the implementing manager totally failed to implement. The DDT scheme expired on 30th June 2021 but the MOC did not issue for the continuation of this scheme after the passing of sixteen months while it is the part of approved Textile Policy of 2020-25. They also highlighted that the old DDT/DLTL amounts are still pending with the government.

“During the meeting they unanimously agreed to invite representatives of all Export Oriented Association in the next meeting which is scheduled to be held on 22nd November 2022 to discuss & finalize a comprehensive strategy/agenda to discuss with MoF for enhancement of export which will have a positive impact on balance of trade. For this purpose, they formed a productive committee to look after the problems of the Export industry. This committee will work under the chairmanship of Zubair Tufail while its members will be Syed Usman Ali, Ahmed Chinoy & Dr. Ikhtiar Baig.”

The prominent businessmen urged the government to make a comprehensive roadmap for the growth of the export sector otherwise our survival will be very difficult in this world. The growth of export of any country is accompanied with its prosperity, independent foreign policy as well as a better standard of living of its people.

Therefore, we request on behalf of the export Oriented Sector, kindly remove all bottlenecks & consider five zero rated sectors as 1st priority in supply of gas so we may be able to play their significant role to enhance the exports for betterment of Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022