Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) has assured All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) of uninterrupted gas supply during winter and solution of all gas related issues of the export-oriented sectors on priority basis.
SNGPL Managing Director Syed Ali Javaid Hamdani gave this assurance while addressing the members of the association during his visit to the APTMA House on Monday, said a press statement. The MD was accompanied by the top SNGPL management. He lauded the role of the textile industry in creating jobs, attracting new investment and uplifting exports of the country.
He emphasised the need for frequent interactions and holding of regular meetings between SNGPL and APTMA for addressing all issues on priority. He further assured APTMA members of developing a mechanism to settle their complaints related to the return of PDCs of GIDC arrears in accordance with the judgments of the Lahore High Court.
He said that despite the acute scarcity of gas in the country the management of the SNGPL was making efforts for uninterrupted gas supply to the APTMA member mills during the coming winter to keep them operational and to avoid any loss to the economy in general and exports in particular.
Earlier, Chairman APTMA Abdul Rahim Nasir urged the visiting MD to provide a continuous RLNG supply of 185 MCFD in winter months to keep them operating to ensure timely export supplies to foreign buyers. He also demanded the withdrawal of SNGPL notices to textile exports requiring enhancement of security/guarantee at the normal RLNG rates instead of the $6.5/MMBTU tariff applicable to the export sector.
According to him, expeditious processing of load/new connection applications is an urgent need of the hour to enable the industry to continue with the production of exportable consignments without interruption.
Rahim also expressed concerns over delay in the reconciliation of GIDC arrears in light of Lahore High Court judgements regarding the application of industrial rate and not captive rate for calculation of GIDC liability and withholding of liabilities for the period prior to 2015. He requested for return of post-dated cheques submitted to SNGPL in light of the verdict by the Lahore High Court in GIDC arrears. He regretted that the field staff of the utility agency was continuously threatening disconnection of gas despite court orders and demanded stopping them from visiting member mills without associating APTMA.
