Lahore – After suspension of gas supply for approximately 10 days, the SNGPL has announced to have restored the supply to textile industry in Punjab but only for four hours a day.
The gas company will supply 20 percent gas for processing use. It will be followed by further increase in gas supply on daily basis.
The industry will fight for 24 hours a day gas supply as stipulated in recently-announced Textile Policy 2014-19, said APTMA chairman SM Tanveer while addressing a press conference. He added that the SNGPL had suspended gas supply to the Punjab-based textile industry on February 9 till further notice. The sudden suspension had started impacting the viability of textile industry by and large. Especially, exports orders were in doldrums due to partial closures of shift in the industry.
Meanwhile, the domestic commerce also witnessing surge in import of fine count cotton yarn from India, already increased to 30,000 tons in 2013-14 against 18000 tons in 2012-13 and 6000 tons in 2011-12 respectively. Also, he added, the import of polyester manmade fiber reached to 43000 tons per annum. He said the SDPI study has revealed that Pakistan’s domestic commerce was witnessing $1.7 billion entry of synthetic fiber through smuggling.
He appreciated the newly-announced textile policy 2014-19 and expressed the hope that initiatives taken would lead to growth in textile exports. It is also impressive to note that the new textile policy also envisages 24 hours gas supply to textile industry across the board, he added.
