Pakistan’s pottery industry facing severe crisis due to rising gas prices
Thousands of jobs at stake as 150 pottery units in Gujarat facing threat of closure
Nearly 150 units of pottery industry in Pakistani city Gujrat are facing the threat of closure due to high prices of gas. Thousands of jobs are at stake.The industry is producing 100,000 tons of different pottery products annually, of which 25 percent comprise mixed porcelains and 75 percent earthenware and stoneware.
Business community engaged in pottery industry has appealed to the government to take steps for its survival and to remove multifarious problems of this old industry of Gujrat. They said that pottery industry is on the verge of collapse as many units have been closed due to lack of support from the government and the problems faced by the industry since long.The manufacturers of pottery and ceramics are complaining that recent
increase in the prices of gas has made them less competitive. They are saying
the move would render their products noncompetitive and Chinese products could
capture the entire Pakistani market in this sector.
The price of gas has been increased from Rs 2101 per MMBTU to Rs 2706 per MMBTU which means pottery industry will pay millions of rupees extra in gas bills. This will add more burden on already struggling industry.
They are complaining that they no longer compete with China and Thailand
due to the high cost of production. Manufacturers of pottery and ceramic
products have lodged a strong protest against the recent hike in gas tariff
which is the basic fuel for the industry.
Pakistan
Pottery Manufacturers Association president Chaudhry Zaman said the tariff had
almost been doubled in the fresh bills received by the manufacturing units in
Gujrat that shocked the local industry.
He said the
Gujrat-based pottery units were actually domestic cottage industry as some
major manufacturing units had already been shut due to worst conditions of
doing business. “Now the new gas tariff could result in closure of the cottage
industry as well”.
Raja Waqas
Ahmed, the PPMA general secretary, said such an increase of gas tariff had
never been witnessed before. “The government has purchased the RLNG on hefty
prices from international market but the local industry was not capable of
bearing such a pressure.”
He said that
the manufacturers were compelled to increase the rates of their products due to
hike in gas prices but the local industry might not survive before the Chinese
products in terms of prices. Gujrat houses at least 150 pottery manufacturing
units where around 30,000 workers are employed and hundreds of people are also
affiliated with the trade of pottery products across the country.
The
manufacturers have called upon Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the
matter and order withdrawal of the hike in gas tariff.
The three big units of ceramics makers (used to make dinner and tea sets) Lone China, Regal China and Pak pro China had already been closed. The local market in Pakistan is flooded with imported pottery and ceramics products. the Chinese products are cheaper and better quality. The smuggling is also taking its toll.
The immediate government intervention is necessary to save the local pottery industry. The livelihood of thousands of families is at stake.
The pottery industry
is facing the similar situation in Pasrur a small city near Sialkot. A large number of small pottery units are
functioning on roadsides of Pasrur and most of vendors working at their homes
for earning a living. The owners of pottery units are saying that there was a
great need of establishment of ‘Mini Industrial Estate’ in Pasrur city. They
also demanded early provision of basic facilities under one roof for
flourishing the industry.
There is
urgent need to remold the century old pottery industry on modern and scientific
lines as the units are still using old traditional techniques in Pasrur. The
artisans engaged in clay pottery are fully capable of improving the standard
and quality of its pottery manufacturing in accordance with international
standard.
The government needs to take immediate steps for its survival and resolution of multifarious problems being faced by it. The lack of governmental patronage, the industry is taking last breath because many units have been closed down due to the lack of incentives, the government’s support and longstanding unresolved problems being faced by the industry.
Rukhsana Manzoor Deputy Editor
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