LAHORE - All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) management will hold series of protests against gas supply suspension to textile mills by the SNGPL starting Wednesday, 4th January, 2012.
Thousands of textile workers will join hands with the mill management to protest against gas supply suspension to textile mills in Punjab at the Manga-Raiwind Road.
APTMA secretary Anisul Haq said that top APTMA leadership is also likely to attend the protest against gas supply suspension for indefinite period by the SNGPL.
It may be noted that gas supply to textile industry has been suspended since December 25 and the SNGPL management has informed that it is unlikely that gas supply would be restored in January.
APTMA spokesman said it is impossible for the industry to continue with production plans due to severe energy crisis, providing job to about 10 million textile workers of Punjab. Also, he said, 70% of the textile industry is located in Punjab where gas supply on the SNGPL network has been denied since December 25.
He said the textile industry has contributed to national economy by achieving record exports of $14 billion (over 55% of the total exports) last fiscal and it is providing employment to 48% workforce of the manufacturing sector in the country.
According to APTMA management, the supply chain disruption due to non-availability of energy is hurting the textile industry across the value chain. The energy crisis has crippled the viability of industry and it is fast becoming uncompetitive in the region.
The government is urged to restore the gas supply of the textile industry without further delay and save the premier textile industry from disastrous situation.