Central Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), Gohar Ejaz has expressed concerns over the non-implementation of federal government decision of five days a week gas supply to the textile industry by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL), resulting into potential one billion dollar a quarter production loss forthwith.
He said the cabinet committee had taken a decision to ensure five days a week gas supply to the textile industry which was later on endorsed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan in the presence of Chief Minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif. However, he deplored, SNGPL has not implemented the decision for a single day. He further said that SNGPL only negated the spirit of the committee's decision, but also made a mockery of the situation by reducing gas supply to industry three and a half days arbitrarily earlier and revising it downward further three days a week supply on Thursday. Chairman Aptma lamented that the industry-hostile approach of the SNGPL authorities is also discouraging textile businessmen from investing a billion dollars per annum fresh investment in the sector.