‘Sustained gas supply lending support to exports’

APTMA Punjab chairman says textile industry functioning at full capacity

LAHORE:

Sustained supply of gas and re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) has helped maintain the momentum of enhanced exports and resultantly, textile industry is functioning at full capacity, said All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Punjab Chairman Abdul Rahim Nasir.

In a statement on Tuesday, he said that textile exporters had reserved orders for the next six months.

“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, overall exports of Pakistan registered over 18% growth in December 2020 compared to the corresponding period of last year,” he said. “Earlier in November 2020, textile exports surged 9% on a year-on-year basis.”

According to Nasir, textile sector was currently going through a period of rapid expansion, which was fuelled by bulk orders and growing demand.

He stressed upon the government to sustain this momentum, which was being facilitated by the upcoming textile policy.

There have been isolated cases of low gas pressure and supply problems on mixed feeders and Aptma has taken up these issues with the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines’ (SNGPL) management which has assured us of all-possible assistance in removing any bottlenecks.

In particular, he said Aptma northern zone appreciated the role of the Ministry of Petroleum and the management of SNGPL for ensuring that export-oriented sectors were provided gas/RLNG at stable pressures despite a huge surge in demand during the winter season.

He voiced hope that the new managing director of SNGPL would personally ensure uninterrupted supply of gas at normal pressure for the export industry to enable it to create additional jobs, attract new investment and uplift exports of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2021.

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