MULTAN City News

APTMA south Punjab chapter to

observe Black Day agaisnt govt

From Our Correspondent

MULTAN: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association south Punjab chapter members on Tuesday criticised the government and announced to observe December 6 as the Black Day against its policies.

APTMA south Punjab head Khawaja Anis Ahmad announced this while addressing a meeting here on Tuesday. He said that the Black Day would be observed in a bid to register strong protest against the government policies towards Punjab-based industry and disparity in gas prices. The protest would be observed against delay in releasing Rs 170 billion relief package and a wide gap in the gas prices for Punjab and other provinces, he told. The disparity in the gas prices had shattered the entire industrial chain in Punjab, he lamented. He said that the industries in Sindh were consuming low-priced gas to meet their needs whereas Punjab industries, which generated the highest revenue, were compelled to use the expensive re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) in their production process. With the recent reduction in the industrial gas tariff, the price for Sindh industries had become Rs 400 per meter million British thermal units (MMBTU) whereas Punjab industries were paying over Rs 930 per MMBTU for RLNG, he said. “With a huge difference of 120pc in gas prices, how could we survive? This is unjust,” he said. He said that they were repeatedly voicing their concern over the situation but to no use. Khawaja Anis Ahmed urged the PM to take notice of the situation and ensure gas supply to the industries of Punjab at the same price.

He also called for immediately announcing the long-awaited Prime Minister’s package for the ailing textile industry and the supply of electricity to industries at Rs 7 per unit to enable them to compete well in the international market. He announced that if the government did not fulfill their demands, they would hold a massive protest. Anis Khawaja said that the policymakers were not serious about resolving the issues of textile industry and the situation was worsening day by day. He demanded that equal industrial gas tariffs should be applied across the board. He was of the view that the situation was becoming unbearable for the industry and it was a constant source of inefficiency plaguing the viability of producing units. Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Khawaja Jalaluddin Rumi also criticised the government for not tackling the industrial crisis and said that the situation could be more alarming in the coming months.