He was talking to Gohar Ejaz, Chairman Aptma Punjab, who gave a detailed presentation about the concerns of the textile industry to the minister. The SNGPL has been directed by the Federal Minister to provide gas supply to the textile industry on priority so that the industry could plan and manage uninterrupted production, said a press statement from Aptma.
Gohar Ejaz told the Federal Minister that the textile industry was unduly deprived of gas for 19 days in the month of January contrary to the schedule worked out by the Cabinet Committee on Gas Load Management, causing billions of rupees per day loss to the industry and the economy.
As per the Cabinet Committee's Gas Load Management Policy that was deliberated upon and agreed to by all stakeholders, 2 days' gas supply suspension per week for the Textile Industry was finalised. However, instead of closure for 7 days as per the understanding, gas remained cut off for a full 19 days up to 29 January.
To add to the woes of the textile industry electricity supply also remained cut off for 8 to 10 hours daily during January. Gohar told the minister that the textile industry was export oriented. The effect of any disruption in the supply chain travels right up to the ready-made and garments sector and impair the ability of the industry to honour its export commitments in time.