APBUMA SAYS FIVE DAYS GAS LOAD-SHEDDING MAY BE DISASTEROUS

MULTAN,Feb 28th:Chairman All Pakistan Bedsheets & Upholstery Manufacturers Association Khawaja Muhammad Jalaluddin Roomi, in a press statement, said that 5-days a week gas load shedding is having disastrous impact on the textile sector particularly in Punjab and in such critical situation the exporters are unable to meet their orders by working two days a week. He said gas closure has completely destroyed not only manufacturing side but also export business resultantly million of textile workers would be rendered jobless. Kh. Roomi said it is imperative to state that Prime Minister issued instructions on 23 Dec 2010 that only two days a week gas load shedding will be observed for textile industry but SNGPL ignored instructions and continued gas load shedding during January and February. He further said President of Pakistan declared 2011 as year of textiles but SNGPL did not prefer the will of country’s head and announced cut in gas supply to five days a week.
Chairman APBUMA demanded of the Government that trade bodies of textile concern must be taken into confidence to accord special incentives to textile sector and save this industry where millions workers are employed and economy from collapse. Being prime industry, Textile sector has shown tremendous growth in exports during first seven months of current financial year. He said that there has been reported almost 26% growth which worth $7450 million contrary to $5918 in same preceding period. He stressed the government to support the textile sector for banking on what has been achieved for maximizing the trajectory in terms of valuable foreign exchange. Given the current scenario, the suspension of gas to the textile sector will scrap what has been achieved.
He emphasized the need of political reconciliation on the issue of Gas supply in the largest interest of country as it is having a toll at our fragile economy. Given the limited resources, these should be made available to the industry for maximizing the returns in the shape of more and sustained employment, increased industrial activities, more foreign exchange and ultimately stable economy. Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said that the Charter of Democracy has been shattered and gas load-shedding in Punjab was being conducted intentionally to defame the Punjab Government in the eyes of the public.Shahbaz Sharif also urged President Zardari to note down that there is no room for playing anymore games.