KARACHI: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to intervene and save the export-oriented textile industry of Sindh and Balochistan from total closure.

Export oriented textile industry of two provinces, ie, Sindh and Balochistan have become almost standstill due to gas shortage.

Asif Inam, Chairman Aptma Southern Zone has said that export oriented textile industries of Sind and Baluchistan are contributing more than 52 percent in total textile exports of Pakistan are deprived of gas supply despite the government vision of the higher priority of gas supply to export oriented industries as compared to other industries. He further said that industries of Sindh and Balochistan are denied their legal right on gas supply although they are self-sufficient in supply of natural gas.

He said that due to extremely low gas pressure and frequent unavailability it is very difficult for the export oriented textile industries located in Sindh and Hub Industrial Area to run the mills and fulfill their export commitments well in time.

Chairman Aptma Southern Zone said that despite Balochistan High Court Order, industrial units located in the Hub Industrial Area since last two months are getting only 25 percent gas pressure which is inadequate to run the industry.

He has urged the government and gas supply companies to provide gas first to export oriented industries including textile to run their mills without any disruption so that they can fulfill their export commitments in time and then to other industries if they have enough gas supply otherwise export oriented textile industry would be compelled to shut down their industries as they are incurring heavy financial losses due to unavailability of gas.

Asif Inam has also requested the Prime Minister Imran Khan to intervene and resolve the gas issue so that industries can continue their operation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022