The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has urged the federal government to extend the last date of payment of gas bills.

Dr. Amanullah Kassim Machiyara, chairman of APTMA, while appreciating the government's scheme for granting soft loans for payment of salaries, drew the attention of the prime minister to "the callous attitude of the gas companies" for refusing to grant extension in payment of March bills.

He said that virtually the entire industry of Pakistan was under lockdown and major export orders had been cancelled. Due to the lockdown exports as well as domestic sales had come to a virtual halt, causing a severe liquidity crisis, he added.

He said that the government fully understood the situation and was taking steps to mitigate the rapidly deteriorating situation. However, the SSGC and the SNGPL were not inclined to understand the situation, and this rigid stance would not bode well for the industry which was already closed, he said.

Dr. Kassim appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to intervene and direct the relevant ministries to issue instructions for deferment of gas bills payment.

The industry was not refusing to pay the bills but merely asking for some time so that the situation improved, and the wheels of the industry started churning.

He requested the government to direct the gas companies to collect the March bill in 3 equal monthly installments without any penalty.

Dr. Kassim praised the efforts of the government in controlling the pandemic in Pakistan and prayed for the country's prosperity.