APTMA urges Federal Minister to curb rise in electricity tariffs

30 Oct '08

1 min read

Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Muhammad Iqbal Ebrahim expressed concern over the proposed 60 percent rise in electricity tariff and met with the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez, to appeal on the behalf of Pakistan's textile industry.

He requested that the Minister ask PEPCO/KESC not to increase electricity tariff but create a separate one for the textile industry without any further delay.

He explained that with this hike in tariffs the textile industry based on PEPCO/KESC will not be feasible, as the production cost will skyrocket. He stressed that, this way 150 textile units will close down, leave about 100,000 workers unemployed and affect 600,000 family members.

Mr Ebrahim said that business activity worth Rs100 billion would be suspended and there would be a decrease in direct and indirect exports of about $1 billion. The loss in government revenue would be about Rs700 billion.

Parliamentary committee constituted by the Federal Minister will comprise members from the private sector and present its report within 10 days after investigating the tariff matter.

Minister said that in future the committee will decide about any changes in electricity and gas tariff.

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