Textile sector: Gas supply curtailed for 12 days in a month

Failure to address issue could result in loss of foreign markets.

FAISALABAD:

The Pakistan Textile Exporters Association has expressed concern over curtailment of gas for 12 days in a month.

Association Chairman Wasim Latif and Vice Chairman Adil Manzoor Elahi, while talking to the media, said production and exports would not be maintained due to disruption of operations.

Gas shortage has left a negative impact on the entire sector, which has already been experiencing serious challenges. “Textile production and exports have nosedived, while unemployment has risen sharply due to shutting down of a large number of industrial units,” said Latif.

He added that cost of production had risen for larger units that were using alternative sources of energy.

“The textile industry is providing jobs to millions of people and is also paying large amounts in taxes,” he said. The industry officials blamed the government for not developing a long-term strategy to tackle the energy crisis and urged the authorities to ensure optimum supply of gas and electricity to enable exporters to meet orders.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th,  2011.