Textile associations have rejected the four months long gas closure plan and urged the government to immediately reverse this gas supply cut decision. Textile associations asked the government to reverse the proposed gas cut plan within two days.
While addressing a joint press conference of Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA), All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA), All Pakistan Bedsheets and Upholstery Manufacturers Association (APBUMA), All Pakistan Textile Sizing Association (APTSA) and Loom Owners Association here on Wednesday, Chairman PTEA Sohail Pasha strongly rejected the four-month long gas supply cut to industries and termed it closure plan. He called upon the government to refrain from taking such measures as it would badly cripple the trade and industrial activities in the country. He said gas is imperative to run the wheel of industry but without its availability, no one could even think to run the industry.
With the closure of textile industry 60 percent foreign exchange earnings would be endangered, he warned. He urged the PM and Finance Minister to intervene and take immediate steps to resolve this issue. Nadeem Allahwala, the Senior Vice President of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that gas curtailment for textile industry would damage production badly.
Khawaja Muhammad Amjad, former chairman of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (North Zone) said that government should formulate business friendly policies for reviving the economy not such harmful decisions. They said that country needs new investment to improve infrastructure and economic revival and warned that irregular gas supply to industry would discourage prospective investors from considering Pakistan for investment.
Former regional chairman of All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) Shiekh Khalid Habib said that processing industry needs continuous gas supply to process the fabric as gas is the basic raw material in processing and suspension of gas would halt the processing process. He called upon the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif to come forward and solve the problem immediately.
Naveed Gulzar, Regional Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association highlighted the importance of textile sector in national economy as it is not only providing livelihood to more than 10 million labourers but also contributing 58 percent towards national economy. Waheed Khaliq Raamay, Chairman Loom Owners Association apprehended that the situation would be worsened further in the coming months as large number of manufacturing units would close down and industrial units will be forced to lay off workers from mills.
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