Punjab-based textile industry in Pakistan is facing difficulty as the four-hour gas supply per day to the sector has been suspended by the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for an indefinite period. The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) cited ‘domestic’ load as the reason.
The whole chain of textile comprising 400 to 500 units, including spinning, weaving and processing, in the province would not be supplied gas since Friday evening.
The textile industry, which uses gas for production and processing, would be adversely hit from this gas suspension for winter.
The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab chapter was officially informed by SNGPL on December 9 about the suspension of gas supply to the mills due to rising domestic demand.
Aamir Fayyaz, Chairman, Aptma Punjab in a press statement said gas supply to textile mills in Punjab was 25 per cent in November, which was reduced to 17 per cent in the last week of that month and now SNGPL had issued a letter of zero supply.
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Fayyaz added, “Actual gas consumption of Punjab-based textile industry for both captive power and processing use is equal to 60MMCFD, which is 5pc of 1,200MMCFD.”
The Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) also condemned the sudden gas suspension for export-oriented textile sector, saying it would carry “multi-dimensional” consequences for the industry. This move not only halted the industrial process, but has also put jobs of millions of workers at stake, it added.
In a press statement, PTEA Chairman Asghar Ali said that the gas suspension would be counterproductive for the textile sector that was already facing problems owing to high input cost and other issues, and cause losses in export revenues.
