S M Tanveer Chairman APTMA said on Tuesday that the Punjab-based textile industry has once again been exposed to gas supply suspension for indefinite period by the SNGPL, which is deplorable. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given special direction to divert 85MMCFD gas supply from Rouch Power Plant to Punjab-based textile industry for sixty days and for 8 hours on daily basis. But the SNGPL had failed to own the prime minister's directive.
He further said the Punjab-based textile industry compromised with the situation and kept its operations running during extreme winters. But short supply of gas is once again forced mills to close the shifts. Chairman APTMA said suspension of gas supply for indefinite period has raised many eyebrows, especially when extreme winter season is over and demand for space heating has come to an end. It is not understandable why the SNGPL has suspended gas supply to the Captive Power Plants of Punjab-based textile industry as well as across the value chain, which is in the midway of manufacturing export orders under GSP plus facility.
He apprehended that this situation may lead to cancellation of export orders if situation is not redressed immediately. According to him, it is awesome that the newly-announced textile policy mentioned priority of textile industry in gas supply but the SNGPL suspended supply the very day when the policy was announced by the government. Chairman APTMA has appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif to intervene the situation and ensure immediate restoration of gas supply to the Punjab-based textile industry.