Talking to media after chairing the general body meeting here Monday, the APTMA Chairman Gohar Ejaz said that gas shortage was not to that extent as being portrayed but a sheer mismanagement on the part of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL).

Ejaz said the SNGPL is defying decision of the government of observing two-day week gas load- shedding for textile industry during winter. In view of this decision, the gas supply was suspended for 54 days instead of 24 days, and even then, the APTMA did not any protest just to facilitate the domestic consumers.

To a question, he said, the gas suspension caused 9.3 percent decline in textile productions, while 500,000 daily wagers were laid-off, saying in this situation, the industry would be unable to achieve $ 14 billion export target this year.

In its general body meeting, he said, the APTMA has also passed a resolution to laud President Asif Ali Zardari for taking immediate notice of the situation. – APP

President Zardari has invited the APTMA chairman to hold talks regarding the five-day loadshedding in Punjab, DawnNews reported.