Gas load-shedding and energy crisis are forcing Pakistan textile exporters to move their industries to other countries.

Pakistan’s textile exporters have formed a committee for due diligence to shift industries in wake of the crisis, says Jawed Bilwani, Chairman, Pakistan Apparel Forum.

The zero gas pressure since last 15 days has crippled industries and halted export production in Pakistan. Textile exporters having Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) connections and paying the amounts with great difficulty, to meet export orders at a rate of Rs 1,533 per mmbtu, are not provided gas.

The exporters questioned how industries would work without the basic raw material. They voiced concerns that there is no chance that the textile export industries will get the required gas smoothly with adequate pressure in future.

Faisal Moiz Khan, President, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry has warned that depriving the industry of gas will hurt exports of the country. Bilwani also added that amid the continuous gas crisis in the country, especially in Karachi, and given contradictory moves by the government towards its business policies, textile exporters have constituted a committee for due diligence to shift textile export industries elsewhere, on the exporters demand, to correspond and negotiate with those countries which have much better business and export-friendly policies.