LAHORE: Faisalabad has been given a preference in restoration of five weeks gas supply to the industry in Punjab on recommendation of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) to ensure immediate hiring of thousands of textile workers associated with cottage weaving industry.

The announcement regarding restoration of five days gas supply to the industry in Punjab in line with the directive of President Asif Zardari was separately announced to the media by SNGPL Deputy MD Shariq and APTMA Chairman Gohar Ejaz.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the APTMA chairman thanked the President for immediate restoration of gas to the province and ensuring prompt compliance of his direction. He said a three member committee, comprising the secretary Petroleum, MD Pepco and chairman APTMA, had sorted out the modalities for restoration of normal gas supply to the Punjab industry. He said that since the a large number of workers were affected in Faisalabad due to the gas cut, the APTMA had proposed restoration of the commodityís supply from March 4 while the five days a week gas supply would be restored in Lahore from March 8, 2011. He said notification in this regard had been issued.

The APTMA chief hoped that the SNGPL authorities would comply fully with the directive of the president and industry would not be deprived of gas beyond what had been agreed among all the stakeholders.

The SNGPL deputy MD said the needs of the textile industry would be kept in mind while managing the short supply of gas. Meanwhile, the committee, formed by the president, to find a permanent solution to the gas shortage has started deliberating to facilitate the private sector entrepreneurs to import the LNG gas and to induct it in the SNGPL system so that the shortage faced by the industry was fully covered in 12-15 months.

ìThe LNG option is the only viable long term solution to our energy needs until the new gas discoveries are made,î Gohar said.The textile millers appreciated the role of Pepco also that implemented the policy of the federal government in letter and spirit of uninterrupted power supply to the industry.