The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab held an emergent general body meeting at the APTMA Punjab office attended largely by the membership from Faisalabad and Multan zone connected to the meeting through video links. The meeting considered to formulate strategy for restoration of viability of textile industry and obtaining one energy price across the country.
In a unanimously passed resolution, the house lauded a timely support of the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif averting disparity in gas prices in Punjab against other provinces.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman APTMA Punjab Syed Ali Ahsan said a huge disparity of Rs 530/MMBTU was about to render the textile industry uncompetitive in Punjab against the mills located in other parts of the country due to the ECC decision of reducing system gas rates for the general industry from Rs 600 per MMBTU to Rs 400 per MMBTU. The reduced rate would not have no benefit the industry in Punjab.
He appreciated the support of Chief Minister Punjab by extending a patient hearing to the industry delegation and understanding its viewpoint and saved 70 percent of the textile industry located in Punjab employing 10-million direct and indirect workforce. He said three still exists energy price disparity within the country. The only solution to overcome is a uniform price for energy across the country.
He said: "The Punjab-based export-oriented textile industry was unable to pass on surcharges in a highly competitive environment in and around the country." Chairman APTMA Punjab said the system gas and RLNG prices should be rationalised to equalise for industry across the country in line with the regional competitors countries. He further demanded of notification of the NEPRA determined electricity tariff for industry without any additional surcharges or levies at regionally competitive rate of Rs 7/KWh. He has also expressed the hope that the federal government would announce a comprehensive textile package for the textile industry to bring down high cost of doing business in and across the country.
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