SNGPL's Gas Supply to Punjab Textile Industry Helped The Industry to Boost Its Exports

Unrelenting hourly-based gas supply to Punjab textile industry by Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd (SNGPL) over past three months has helped the industry to boost its exports, said All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab chairman SM Tanveer.

Commending the SNGPL management for their efforts APTMA Punjab chairman urged the SNGPL team to continue the efforts to ensure unrelenting gas supply to the industry throughout the year, as it would allow the industry to operate at fullest strength and reinstate its laid-off workers, Business Recorder reported.

SNGPL MD Arif Hameed, who was on a visit to APTMA Punjab office with his team, said it is the duty of SNGPL to help the industry in greater interest of the nation. He also consoled that SNGPL would relook into APTMA’s demand for constant supply of 200 millions of cubic feet per day (MMCFD) gas during winter season.

Noting that APTMA, a premier textile association with accountability, is a major contributor to country’s economic growth, Mr. Tanveer said the association aims to boost industry exports to double to US$ 26 billion over next five years, alongside employment generation for 10 million people.

Mr. Tanveer said as winter, the most challenging period for the industry is about to start, this has raised concerns of the textile industry in Punjab.

The European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences plus (GSP+) facility is expected to extend enhanced export opportunity to the sector, but the industry would be able to avail the opportunity only with unrelenting power and gas supply, he added.

Mr. Tanveer also voiced his apprehension that lack of continuous gas supply during winter may render the industry unviable, resulting in serious unemployment issues leading to increased poverty as well as law and order issues.

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data, textile exports from Pakistan jumped 9.99 percent year-on-year to US$ 3.576 billion during the first quarter of fiscal year 2013-14 that began on July 1, 2013.

During the period textile exports contributed around 53.28 percent of country’s total exports worth US$ 6.712 billion.