The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Punjab Chairman Aamir Fayyaz has sought immediate directions for the electricity distribution companies to correct the month of January bills in accordance with the Prime Minister's announcement of Rs 3 reduction in industrial tariff, followed by the February 4 notification by the Ministry of Water and Power.
He also said that the last date payment should be revised to actual deadline of 22nd of the current month from the present deadline of 19th February. He said the industry was expecting Rs 9 per unit electricity bill for the month of January after the Prime Minister's announcement and the subsequent notification by the Ministry of Water and Power.
"But the electricity distribution companies have issued January bills at the calculation of Rs 12.50 per unit, resulting into a rush of the member mills at the offices of distribution companies for a correction of bills." However, the concerned staff is expressing inability to correct the bills because of the absence of an internal system and pushing the member mills to pay January bill and get adjustment in the February bill when the system would be in place," he added.
He said the industry has already sold consignments at a calculation of Rs 9 per unit electricity cost and present fiasco would drag it to a crisis if no immediate intervention is made by the ministry. He said the industry had a long standing demand of removal of Rs 3.63 surcharges from the electricity bills. The Prime Minister's announcement was understood as his consent to it, which led to selling of products at a reduced energy cost. He also pointed out that the fuel price adjustment was a right of the industry, which should not be taken away under the garb of Rs 3 per unit reduction in electricity unit price. The industry would lose competitiveness if this facility is not implemented in true spirit ie reducing cost to benefit GSP plus facility from the European Union.