APTMA calls on PM to get resolve power load shedding issue

Federal Ministers including Hafeez Sheikh, Dr Asim Hussain, Ch Ahmed Mukhtar, Qamar Zaman Kaira and Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, besides the federal secretaries and Chief Executives of power distribution companies (DISCOs), were also present in the meeting.

Representing the textile industry, Chairman Mohsin Aziz said he was great admirer of the government two months back for overcoming power shortfall from 40 – 50% to 22%. He said the government and concerned ministries were also worth appreciation for keeping prime users on independent feeders exempted from load shedding in the case of textile industry.

However, he lamented that a decrease in shortfall to 22% has proved fatal to textile industry, as the government has not only withdrawn exemption from load shedding to textile industry but also introduce six hours mandatory load shedding on independent feeders and prime users. In some cases, he said, interruption to power supply has exceeded to seven hours.

Mohsin strongly protested against increase in load shedding to textile industry in a situation when power shortfall has reduced substantially and maintained that the government was killing the hen laying golden egg for it.

He said the Captive Power Plants (CPPs) of textile industry are generating 250MW against a total demand of 1500MW of textile industry.

According to him, the textile industry would be collapsed altogether in power-stricken areas of Punjab that would lead to decline in exports and massive unemployment in textile industry. He said textile millers are yet restraining the textile workers by keeping them calm as of today. However, he feared that situation may get out of control in case power interruption continues for long. He said the textile industry feeders are running on 100% recovery with zero line losses.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has constituted a committee to look into the matter and to ensure judicious distribution of available power.

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA)