FAISALABAD
The industrial sector especially the textile industries are in the grip of severe crisis as energy crisis has badly affected the productivity and exports, a delegation of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association told government high-ups.
Meeting with the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade vice chairman and the SNGPL managing director separately, the PTEA delegation, however, appreciated the government efforts for overcoming the problems of the industrial sector and hoped that it will improve economy and the desired results would be achieved.
“The government is making an all-out effort for economic revival in the country by removing the hurdles on the path to development, said Vice Chairman Syed Maratab Ali during the meeting held in Lahore.
“The goal of economic revival and prosperity cannot be achieved without overcoming industrial crisis.”
Syed Maratab said that necessary steps has been taken after evolving comprehensive policies and programmes for the revival and progress of industrial and other sectors. No doubt, he added, industrial sector was playing an important role for strengthening the national economy and providing jobs for the people.
Considering energy crisis, the core issue of industrial sector, he said that the government has spared no effort to resolve the energy crisis and a comprehensive policy will be devised to cope with energy shortage for textile sector so that not only industrial sector could resume its activities but new job opportunities could also be created.
He said that industrial sector has faced with various problems due to shortage of gas and electricity. Had due attention been paid in the past to resolving the problem, the nation would not have faced the difficulties, he added.
PTEA Chairman Sheikh Ilyas Mahmood, former chairmen Rana Arif Touseef, Muhammad Yousaf, Wasim Latif, Asghar Ali and former vice chairman Muhammad Asif comprised the delegation. High officials of industries, commerce and investment department were also present. Various proposals to give relief to textile sector were considered in the meeting.
Later, the PTEA delegation met with SNGPL Managing Director Arif Hameed and apprised him of the negative impacts of upcoming three months long gas suspension for the industry on national economy.
They said that energy crisis is causing an irreparable loss to textile industry and this precious forex earning sector had reached on the verge of disaster due to gas crisis. Talking with the delegation, the managing director said that all possible steps are being taken for providing gas to industries and sincere efforts made for providing relief with regard to energy to industrial sector.
He said that energy crisis is a national issue which can be solved jointly by adopting national approach. He assured that every possible effort would be made for improving the situation of providing gas to the industries. He hoped that due to solid efforts, industries could get relief regarding energy.