AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Karachi: Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Mohsin Aziz demanded that textile industry be exempted from gas load shedding in the larger interest of national economy.
Reacting to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) decision of continuing with three days a week gas curtailment for textile industry, Chairman APTMA said that gas curtailment of textile industry is already inhibiting its export target and growth potential as 80 percent of textile industry is dependent on gas-based Captive Power Plants.
He further said that the textile industry has employed 15 million workforces and it has achieved $14 billion exports during 2010-11 and intending to take it to $20 billion during current fiscal year if uninterrupted gas and electricity is provided to the industry.
He said the country needs an immediate push to exports in a situation when trade deficit has crossed over 30 percent. This trade deficit could only be overcome through increase in textile exports.
Chairman APTMA said that the textile industry is already facing financial crunch leading to bankruptcies. A gas load shedding for three days for textile industry is fatal to the growth of industry as well as exports of the country, he added.
Mohsin Aziz further said that the textile industry has already been deprived of gas for 120 days during the ongoing calendar year therefore, ECC should review its decision and announce exemption from gas load shedding for textile industry without delay.
If it is not possible immediately, the government should reduce gas load shedding for textile industry from three days to two days a week to strengthen its potential of achieving $20 billion exports and keep the jobs of 15 million employees intact in the country.
For more information, contact:
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association
APTMA House, 44-A,Lalazar,
Off: Moulvi Tamizuddin Khan Road,
Karachi -74000, Pakistan.
Phone: 0092-21-111-700-000
Fax: 0092-21-5611305
E.Mail: aptma@cyber.net.pk
Web Site: www.aptma.org.pk