All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) on Wednesday demanded removal of moratorium on the new gas connections to the industries located in Sindh with immediate effect on the same pattern as that done for residential buildings. Imran Maqbool Chairman APTMA Sindh-Balochistan Region has said that with the import of RLNG and removal of bottlenecks, the availability of gas in the country has increased and it will increase in industrial activity in the country.
In addition, with import of gas the federal government has lifted the ban on new gas connections for hundreds of newly-constructed high-rise buildings. He requested the government to allow new gas connections as well as allow applications for enhancement of load which have been lying pending decisions for a long time and adversely affecting industrial activity and creation of employment.
Maqbool said that APTMA members in Sindh are still facing a problem of low gas pressure which is badly affecting our production resulting in delay in shipments of export orders. "If the same problem will persist, the textile industry which is the major export oriented industry will be unable to meet the target set by the government and fully utilise the market access extended by EU", he added. Regional Chairman APTMA pointed out that the Sindh province is rich in gas reserves, still the gas needs of the industry in Sindh are not being met properly. He urged the government to lift ban on new gas connections as well as enhancement of gas load to the industry in Sindh should be given immediate attention. Textile industry is the backbone of our economy and earning much needed foreign exchange and creating employment opportunities, and any quick decision in this regard would bring growth in the economy and prosperity to the general public at large scale, he added.