LAHORE, May 22: All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Chai-rman, Mohsin Aziz, has said that textile exports surged 10 per cent in April to $1.14 billion from $1 billion in March because of increased energy supply to the industry.

In a statement on Tuesday, he said the petroleum minister Asim Hussain and water and power minister Naveed Qamar had ensured energy supply to the industry on the directives of President Asif Zardari two months back that had helped industry increase production for exports.

He said five days a week gas supply had improved the textile industry exports immediately. He said the textile industry could easily meet previous year’s target if five days a week gas supply continues and sincere efforts are made to increase it to six days a week.