Textile mills of Pakistan protested against the government for increasing the power tariff and uncontrolled dumping of subsidised goods from India.

Around 400 large textile spinning mills remained closed all over resulting in losses worth Rs 1.8 billion. Tariq Saud, chairman, APTMA, said that the countrywide strike was very successful and all textile mills from Karachi to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained shut.

On the other hand, the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) did not observe the strike and all the 12,000 small and medium scaled units of value-added sector from Karachi to Peshawar remained open. 

Ijaz Khokar, chief coordinator, PRGMEA said that although they are strongly against the government's increase in duty on import of cotton yarn, the whole apparel sector remained operative on the day of the strike.

Pakistan's exports dropped by 21 per cent year-on-year in September 2015 as result of unfavourable industrial policies of the government like increase in electricity charges and rise in gas infrastructure development cess (GIDC) which spinning mills claim amount to a cost of Rs 170 billion every year.  (HO)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India