LAHORE: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Standing Committee on Textile Ancillaries Mian Fraz Alam has urged the government to order restoration of gas supply to textile industry to prevent its collapse.

In a statement, he said gas loadshedding could be prevented by stopping theft of gas of billions of rupees, but the Sui Northern and Sui Southern were instead resorting to suspension of gas supply to genuine industrial consumers.

The loadshedding had hit the textile industry which was already facing problems, like electricity shortage, high input costs and markup rates.

The industry which contributes more than 60 per cent to exports would close down if gas supply was not restored immediately, he said.