Federal Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain announced on Thursday five days a week gas supply to industry in Punjab from March 26 onwards. He was speaking to members of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APMTA) through telephone, hoping for 24/7 gas supply in case more gas enters the system ahead.
According to him, some 225MMCFD gas has already been inducted to the system, providing the room for five days a week gas supply to industry in Punjab from Monday onwards. However, he added in the same breath that the number of new domestic connections was high in recent past therefore the system would have to experience heavy load in coming months.
Gohar Ejaz, APTMA Group Leader, along with Chairman APTMA Punjab Ahsan Bashir thanked the Federal Minister for his kind considerations to the problems of textile industry in Punjab, saying 31 percent of production capacity was idle since last many months.He expressed the hope that textile industry would also be able to respond the government in the same coin by increasing exports in the months to come.
It may be noted that the SBP quarterly report had mentioned that textile exports were down by three percent during current fiscal due to supply constraints. Dr Asim appreciated Gohar Ejaz for his input as head of PM Task Force on energy and said he had played magnificent role. Also, he said, industry in Punjab had paid heavy price of gas shortage.
He paid tributes to APTMA members for well behaving throughout the crisis. He said the government was walking on right a rope and the ministry would ensure uninterrupted gas supply to textile industry in case no untoward incident took place.
Regarding gas import from Iran, he said, a lawyer of international law was being looked for by the industry to contest the case of exemption from UN sanctions. "We are looking for international lawyer, as gas import from Iran is very much on the cards," he added. On Indian offer for utilisation of LNG terminal use, he said the option would be looked into, once the negative list was published by the Ministry concerned. When asked about any further increase in gas prices, the minister said it was the domain of Ogra and not the Ministry of Petroleum.