An emergency meeting of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) was held here Thursday to consider the proposals put forward by the prime ministerial special committee on energy supply at affordable rate to Punjab-based textile industry during winter. Central Chairman APTMA S M Tanveer, Group leader APTMA Gohar Ejaz and Chairman APTMA Punjab Seth Mohammad Akbar were also present on the occasion.
The APTMA leadership apprised the general body of the deliberations held with the Special Committee in terms of reference including proposing mechanism for sustainable gas supply to Punjab-based textile industry in winter, addressing low pressure of gas for industry and resolution of any other relevant issues. Chairmen of entire textile value chain associations were also part of the negotiations with the committee. The meeting reviewed the prevalent situation in the context of the energy security as well as affordability for the Punjab-based textile industry. Members were of the considered opinion that the viability of the Punjab-based textile industry is an issue forcing the textile industry to close down operations in case the government fails to come up with workable solution and bring the energy cost at par with mills in other provinces as well as the region.
Already, they said, sizeable quantities of basic textile from regional competitors have stated making inroads to domestic commerce, threatening the very existence of local industry. Also, textile exports have witnessed unprecedented decline recently.
The meeting stressed that the availability as well as affordability of energy to the Punjab-based textile industry is turning into a dilemma, confusing the member mills on whether to continue with operations or close down altogether ahead. The APTMA general body considered the options being deliberated in the special committee including uninterrupted electricity supply instead of gas to the Punjab-based mills in winter, supply of 100mmcfd gas on hourly basis in combination of electricity supply and a special textile industry tariff to bring the energy cost equivalent to Rs 10 per kWh.
The general body unanimously decided to mandate the APTMA management for negotiations with the government with prime focus on securing the viability of the textile value chain. The APTMA management assured of toeing the aspirations of the membership while further negotiating the energy problems with the government and expressed the hope for early resolution of the problem.
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