Special gas quota would be allocated for the export-oriented textile industry of Faisalabad, Dr. Asim Hussain, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources, has assured.
Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Chairman Asghar Ali said the Faisalabad textile sector has been assured of allocating gas quota on a trial basis for Khurarianwala industrial cluster for one week, and later on the same would be allocated to all regions.
The assurance was given while a PTEA delegation headed by him met Dr. Hussain in Lahore to discuss the gas loadshedding issue in the region, Mr. Ali said. The delegation apprised Dr. Hussain that the textile industry of the region is rapidly losing its competitiveness due to unavailability of gas, he added.
The PTEA chief claimed that the 180 day gas loadshedding during last fiscal eroded half the capacity of the foreign exchange generating textile industry, which accounts for 55 percent to country’s overall exports, and employs around 15 million people. He said while gas cut has been extended from three days per week to four days per week, it is not possible for textile mills, which are already operating with small margins, to continue operations with alternate fuels.
Hailing the Government’s move, Mr. Ali said the gas quota allocation would help them timely honour their export commitments and would also provide a boost to the economic and industrial activities in the region.
