Central Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Gohar Ejaz has appreciated Prime Minister's assurance of five days a week gas supply to textile industry in Punjab and termed it a historic decision. Talking to Business Recorder, Gohar Ejaz also paid kudos to the leadership quality of the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and said his timely initiative has saved industry from a big loss.
It may be noted that the Aptma leadership had given a seven-day ultimatum to the government last week for resumption of gas supply to the textile industry in accordance with the decision of the Federal Cabinet last week. The ultimatum was given against a notification from the SNGPL suspending gas supply to the industry for indefinite period last week.
Chairman Aptma Punjab Ahsan Bashir had called emergency meeting of the Aptma Punjab Executive Committee, which was also attended by the central Chairman Aptma. The Aptma leadership had accordingly given a seven-day ultimatum to the government. Meanwhile, Gohar Ejaz also called on the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on his return from Dubai and briefed him about the crisis like situation in the industry. The Chief Minister Punjab, on the request of Aptma leadership, sought time from the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani while terming the SNGPL decision as a conspiracy against Punjab.
Gohar Ejaz, who has also attended Monday meeting in Islamabad, told Business Recorder that he made a detailed presentation to the high level meeting and pointed out that textile industry was denied gas supply for 100 days during last fiscal and it was deprived of gas supply for 36 days during current fiscal.
He also mentioned that federal Cabinet decision was flouted by the SNGPL authorities by restricting gas shortage to Punjab where textile industry is providing jobs to millions of workers and fetching precious foreign exchange for country. He said the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif also stressed the federal government to ensure equitable gas supply to the industry in Punjab. The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to provide five days a week gas to textile industry in Punjab accordingly. Gohar Ejaz said the industry was grateful to the federal and Punjab government for ensuring gas supply to textile and also appreciated the efforts made by the Petroleum Minister Naveed Qamar to this effect.