Cotton farmers may not recover production cost: APTMA

04 Jul '14

2 min read

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) fears that cotton growers in the Punjab province may not able to recover their production cost if the ongoing energy crisis in the textile industry continues for another one month.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, APTMA senior vice chairman Akbar Seth said the continuation of energy crisis would affect the productivity of the textile industry, and mills would not procure more cotton, which may result in farmers not getting enough price to recover their production cost, and some farmers may even resort to set their crop ablaze after failing to get appropriate price, endangering the province’s cotton economy.

APTMA Punjab Chapter’s Syed Ali Ahsan, who was also present at the press conference, said production capacity equivalent to 100 textile units has already closed in the province due to power load shedding.

Mr. Ahsan, however, appreciated the Punjab government for providing adequate gas supply to the textile mills during last winter.

He said APTMA has signed an agreement with a China-based company for setting up a 330 MW coal-based power plant, but the question is continuation of operations until the power plant becomes functional.

According to Mr. Ahsan, there has been an unprecedented load shedding, which has resulted in yarn and fabric exports from the province to decrease by 22 percent and 36 percent, respectively, in April and May this year.

He urged the Government to immediately provide electricity and gas supply to the Punjab-based textile mills, which act as a source of livelihood for about 15 million people.

At present, there is ten hours-a-day electricity load shedding and 16 hours-a-day gas load shedding in Punjab, according to the APTMA official.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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