After the budget, which has been appreciated and criticized in industrials sectors, the government promised to help textile exports fulfill their supply order. However, things are not going smooth; various industrialists from Karachi have shown concerns over the gas shortages. So, the industrialists are saying to shift their firms to foreign countries. Though the statements seem to be a pressure strategy to mount pressure on the cut gas supplies to industrial units in Karachi, the government should be on the table with these stakeholders.
Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, chief coordinator, Value-added Textile Forum, said, “Amid the continuous gas crisis in the country especially in Karachi and because of contradictory moves by the government towards its business policies by depriving the exporters of the level playing field and viable business environment, the textile exporters have constituted a committee to shift Industries elsewhere. Textile exporters, who were most disappointed and burdened with one adverse factor after another, have been compelled to make these plans.”
Bilwani said that since June 11, 2021, there was ‘zero’ gas pressure, which has crippled industries and halted export production. “During FY 2020-21, 99 days out of 320 working days, gas pressure was zero or low.” Further, he added that textile exporters having RLNG connections and “paying through their nose to meet export orders at a rate of Rs1,533 per MMBTU were also not provided gas”.
