LAHORE, July 6: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has expressed the hope that the government would ensure five days a week supply of gas to the industry from 10th of this month.

It said in a press release issued on Wednesday that Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Asim Hussain had assured the industry of uninterrupted gas supply from July 10, onwards.

The textile industry is already facing gas shortage since April, incurring a loss of $1.5 billion. The industry cannot afford further curtailment in gas supply, especially before the arrival of bumper cotton crop, an Aptma spokesman said.

He said that the industry was unable to invest $1 billion annually due to energy shortages, putting Pakistan far behind on ITMF map of textile industry investment.

He said the energy shortages were proving a stumbling block in smooth sailing of the industry amidst a highly conducive investment environment under the prevailing international trade scenario.

There are adverse consequences of lagging behind in the investment in the textile industry limiting it to produce exportable surplus to meet $25 billion export target and generate one million additional jobs until 2014-15

He said the government needs to accord priority to ensure uninterrupted energy supply, provide globally competitive interest rates to enable textile industry benefit from the business situation ahead.

He said that the textile industry has been unable to undertake BMR since 2006-07 simply due to the adverse circumstances hitting it one after another.