Chairman APTMA S M Tanveer while appreciating reduction in electricity tariff by Rs 2.32 per unit from December 12, urged the PM to announce special textile industry tariff to enable it to compete regionally without any further delay. He said the latest notification of electricity tariff for textile industry stipulates Rs 12.50 per unit for off peak and Rs 18.80 per unit during peak hours.
A reduction of announced Rs 2.32 per unit in the prevalent tariff will bring the average electricity tariff to Rs 11.50 per unit for the textile industry, which does not suit the industry to compete regionally. Tanveer further said the average electricity tariff in the region is not more than 8 cent. He questioned that how Pakistan's textile industry can survive by paying more than 8 cent?
This is a huge challenge for our industry to compete in the industrial market place, he added. According to him, the Punjab-based textile industry is already facing problems due to inter-province tariff difference, especially when the industry is passing through unprecedented energy shortage since 2007.
He further said that GSP Plus facility from the EU demands a level playing field for Pakistan's textile industry. According to him, the industry was likely to suffer from a colossal loss of US five billion dollars exports in next three months in case no competitive environment is ensured by the government. He said availability as well as affordability of energy to the sector would also bring a billion dollar investment per annum that would generate more employment and exports to the country.
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