LAHORE – The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Punjab Chairman Ali Pervaiz Malik has demanded Rs8 per kWh electricity tariff for the textile industry in Punjab and uninterrupted electricity supply during Ramazan.
“The government should also continue with the relief of Rs3 per unit under the Prime Minister’s Textile Industry package as Punjab industry is unable to operate on over 100 percent energy price disparity viz other provinces.”
He was addressing a press conference after presiding over the APTMA Punjab general body meeting by over 100 member mills from Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan attended Punjab office on Tuesday.
Member mills raised industry concerns relating to the energy supply and affordability. They said the mills would have to close down one and a half shift production, as labour would not be able to offer Sehri and Tarawi due to a total blackout in mills.
He said the Central Chairman Aptma Aamir Fayyaz and group leader Aptma will lead a delegation of 50 textile millers for meeting with Finance Minister in Islamabad wherein issue of energy supply and affordability would be presented.
“Textile units on independent feeders will be forced to lay off workers due to the suspension of one shift production in case the government carried with observing load shedding for industry in Ramazan,” he warned. Ali Pervaiz concerned about the growing trade deficit, said that only way forward for the government is to enable exporting industry to generate exportable surplus and earn precious foreign exchange to overcome $20 billion trade deficit for current year.