All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab general body has given seven days ultimatum to the government for restoration of gas supply to 292 textile mills in Punjab. A delay may lead to multiple options, not disclosed the APTMA leadership yet.
Central Chairman APTMA Gohar Ejaz, who also attended the APTMA Punjab meeting, spoke furiously to communicate industry anger to the government. APTMA Punjab Chairman Ahsan Rashid, besides the millers from Faisalabad and Multan regions, endorsed the central chairman vehemently.
Gohar said the textile industry demand for gas is 600MMCFD, 15 percent, out of total production of 4000MMCFD. But it is not clear as why Punjab is being singled out for gas load shedding, he said, adding: "What's my sin as an industrialist that my industry is being closed?" He lamented the textile mills in Punjab have already been closed for 100 days during last year while they paid all the liabilities for 365 days of a year. He asked that why the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) decided of last Wednesday that the industry would face twice a week load shedding lapsed within 96 hours.
"Now they are telling us that industrial supply is being suspended for indefinite period," he said and added that it is for the first time that the textile millers are vying for continuity of their operations and the government is adamant to close them down.
We are honest to economy and we want to contribute to the national exchequer but we are not being allowed to continue with production plans, he said. Not only this, he said, gas connection to 250 Captive Power Plants (CPPs) is also disconnected, generating 1000 MW in total. He urged the textile millers in Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan to stand united and press the government for implementation of the ECC decision of twice a week gas disconnection to the industry.
"We are organised sector, paying Rs 40 billion income tax," he said quite furious, adding: "Industry can't run without gas provision and we would not sit idle, as we want to run out mill and would not let anyone to close them down." "We cannot afford bankruptcy anymore," he said loudly, adding: "Running mills in Punjab should not be a crime."
Gohar said textile industry was earning $800 million export from Punjab. He said the textile industry has provided job to 15 million workers in Punjab and the industry would leave no stone unturned to reinforce ECC decision. He said the textile industry was not happy with even twice a week gas supply suspension. He also asked furiously that why the SNGPL was not toeing the ECC decision. It may be noted that the Sunday notification from SNGPL mentioned that gas supply to industrial sectors is suspended for indefinite period. He dispelled the impression that Punjab was being deprived of gas supply on political reasons and said it was simply 'mismanagement' on the part of SNGPL, causing crisis like situation in Punjab.