Chaudhry Salamat Ali, Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMEA), North Zone has said that the gas shortage in conjunction with electricity shortage has forced a large number of textile industries and small and medium enterprises to close down or become sick units.
Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) authorities are discouraging industrial investment in Punjab by announcing to continue the load shedding two days a week despite assurance by Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani that there would be load shedding after March 15.
Talking to newsmen, he said that this problem has resulted in the loss of millions of jobs and it is inflicting an annual loss of over 225 billion rupees on the industrial sector alone. The value-added textile sector is unable to timely export products and the buyers are losing confidence in Pakistani exporters, he added. He noted that gas prices in the last couple of years have been raised by 76 percent, resultantly, our products are becoming uncompetitive in the international market. The stoppage of gas has further increased problems for the industrialists and a large number of people whose livelihood is associated with the industries.
Chairman PHMEA stressed that government should workout solution to tackle this problem because in addition to hurting productivity, closure of industries are also causing great trouble to a large number of daily wage workers.
Moreover, Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, Regional Chairman All-Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) said that round-the-clock supply of gas and electricity is imperative to overcome the daunting challenges of unemployment, lawlessness and economic stability.
Addressing an emergent meeting of the association, Saeed was critical of the disharmony among different organisations of the government. He said that it is surprising that Managing Director, SNGPL, Rashid Lone, has said that there would be mandatory and continued gas shedding for two days a week despite the assurance of Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani that there would be no load shedding after March 15. He urged the Prime Minister to take immediate notice of the contradictory statement and give a clear-cut assurance regarding regular gas supply to the industrial sector after March 15.
Meanwhile, gas supply to the industries has been restored after a three days' closure.