Power breakdown affects textile production in Pak's Punjab

09 May '14

2 min read

The increase in electricity load shedding from about 6 hours a day to 10 hours a day has forced about 100 textile mills in the Punjab province to work only in one shift, instead of the usual two, affecting their production, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has said.

Addressing a press conference earlier this week, APTMA group leader Gohar Ejaz said the rise in load shedding to 10 hours a day has led to close down of second shift by the textile mills’ owners.

He said the increased load shedding is already adding to the woes of the textile industry in Punjab, which is bearing a burnt of Pk Rs. 100 billion due to inter-provincial disparity in energy tariffs.

In 2011 and 2012, power generation was 12,244 MW and 10,500 MW, respectively, but there was zero load shedding for the textile industry. In 2013, the textile industry faced six hours a day load shedding when electricity production was 10,500 MW. While production increased to 11,000 MW now, load shedding has also increased to 10 hours a day, Mr. Ejaz explained.

He requested Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to ensure adequate energy supply to the textile industry.

APTMA senior vice chairman Seth Muhammad Akbar said the textile industry was getting six days a week gas supply in 2010, and five days a week in 2011 and 2012, which further reduced to three days a week in 2013, and now it is only two and a half days.

SM Tanveer, chairman APTMA Punjab urged the Government to hold a meeting of the five-member ministerial committee formed by the Prime Minister to address the issues facing the country’s textile industry, including regular electricity and gas supply to the industry.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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