Chairman APTMA Punjab S M Tanveer has urged the government to end the mismatch in electricity and gas supply to the Punjab-based textile industry for the continuity of production activities. He said the production activities are badly affected due to the prolonged mismatch in energy supplies.
According to him the SNGPL was providing eight hours a day gas supply to the Punjab-based textile industry. While, the duration of electricity loadshedding is 10 hours a day. Resultantly, the Punjab-based textile mills are exposed to energy supply mismatch for two hours daily.
Resultantly, he said, the concerned mills have no option but to close down one shift and lay off textile workers in Punjab.
Punjab-based textile mills having no other source of energy are facing 10 hours a day electricity loadshedding, eroding their viability fast.
He said that the industry was given assurance that electricity loadshedding would be reduced to eight hours a day after Eid. Accordingly, he said, the member mills had planned their operations and expected immediate cut in electricity loadshedding since August. Despite various reminders to the Ministry for Water and Power to the promised cut in load shedding, industry is not being provided with relief in load shedding.
Lingering effect on electricity supplies is becoming visible with every passing day, which is adversely impacting the whole supply chain.
S M Tanveer has urged the government to end the mismatch and reduce electricity loadshedding to 8 hours daily, enabling textile industry operations for value added goods meant for exports. Reduction in loadshedding at this time is possible as the weather has considerably improved and demand of electricity has reduced, he added.