More than 600 industrial units remained closed here on Saturday, the second consecutive day, due to gas load shedding in Faisalabad Region. In addition, 25 percent power looms were also closed due to non-supply of the sized yarn from sizing units, which were also closed.
Meanwhile, industrialists of value-added textile industry, Anjuman-e-Tajran Faisalabad and political parties have rejected the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST), and warned the rulers to avoid imposing the tax which can result in a civil disobedience movement in the country.
Salamat Ali, Chairman of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone, said that the export-oriented and labour-intensive textile industry and its multiple crises would further deepen in coming days, as value-added textile sector has failed to fulfil existing export commitments/orders.
In a press statement he said that in view of acute gas shortage, the industries should have been given a priority over other consumers because they are providing employment to millions of people. During November, industries had been closed 12 days so far due to suspension of gas supplies. Hundreds of thousands of workers lost their daily wages, he said and added that the decline in production also resulted in permanently reducing the workforce.
He said that gas shortage was not only hitting the trade and industry but it was also creating law and order situation as the unemployment graph was fast going up with every passing day. Textile export consignments worth millions of dollars from upcountry destined for Christmas sales in European and American markets have been hampered resulting in closure of value-addition chain industries due to gas shedding and week-long Eid festival. Salamat said that due to load shedding of electricity and gas and severe price hike of inputs, value-added textile industry and exports have suffered productivity and supply losses.
He deplored the non-serious attitude of the government towards the gas crisis. He asked the government to come up with an across the board schedule for load management applicable in all parts of the country for only one day.