While felicitating on assuming the office of Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Gohar Ejaz has expressed the hope that Dr Asim Hussain would resolve country's energy crisis. The energy crisis includes shortage, mismanagement and utilisation of natural gas as a source for using and energising the industry in the larger economic interest.
In his facilitation message, the Chairman APTMA pointed out that textile industry is terribly exposed to energy crisis amidst unprecedented suspension of gas supply from the SNGPL network for over three days a week in summer, closing down the production capacities to the extent of over 43 percent.
It may be noted that Chairman APTMA had assured President Asif Ali Zardari of $14 billion exports during annual dinner at Aiwan-e-Sadr on 11th February 2011. However, the energy shortage is proving stumbling block in particular for the remaining period of financial year.
According to Chairman APTMA, the textile industry looks at the new minister with bundle of hopes including an energy mix at an affordable rate besides a reliable and transparent distribution system and a repositioning on priority list under the energy policy.
Further, he said, the textile industry also believes that there should be a generation of 6000MW electricity in three years through hydel, coal and gas under medium term plan of energy policy besides removal of subsidies.
Chairman APTMA also appealed the Federal Minister to ensure import of 1000MMCFD LNG Gas to meet the shortage and distribute through SNGPL and SSGC network on the basis of weighted average, which will cost all consumers 20 percent higher but will end the shortage, which is causing 43 percent load shedding of industry on SNGPL network.