It may be noted that the SNGPL had assured for gas supply to mills in the Lahore region for the current week, ending on December 15. Availability of gas to textile mills in Lahore region would also be susceptible and much more depends on the intervention of Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr Asim Hussain. He has already made intervention early this week from UK and directed the SNGPL to supply gas to textile mills in Lahore.
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) leadership is also worried over the situation, asking the government to increase electricity generation in the country so that industry can continue with operations in the absence of gas supply.
It is generally believed that the government has reduced power supply to around 10,000MW against available capacity of 14000MW to cut down import bill. This move has put the industrial growth under threat, as the government is supplying available electricity to the domestic consumers on priority. Similarly, the SNGPL is also putting domestic consumers on priority, which means that the industry would not be able to get gas and electricity for at least next two months, and if it is available, it would be too little to run the capacities.
Non-availability of energy to the textile industry ahead of general elections is a worrisome situation, as the textile workers are not able to earn their both ends in the absence of industry production. Therefore, the government's move to appease the domestic consumers would prove futile, as mere electricity to domestic consumers would not solve their financial problems when they are denied jobs by the mills.
The industry circles believe that the government should supply gas to Captive Power Plants on priority, as over 80 percent capacity in the Punjab is depending on CPPs to keep their operations intact. And if not possible, they said, the government should generate electricity up to the optimum level by all resources so that textile mills could continue with their operations in the absence of gas supply during next two months.