The ongoing electricity and gas load shedding in Pakistan’s Punjab province has forced the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) to consider various options, including shutdown of the industry.
At a general body meeting of APTMA Punjab, member textile mills from Faisalabad, Multan and Lahore, discussed the current scenario in which there is non-availability of uninterrupted power and gas supply, leading to gradual closure of textile mills.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, APTMA Punjab chairman SM Tanveer said the meeting authorized the APTMA Punjab leadership to take a final decision on indefinite strike/shutdown of textile mills after a meeting with Government officials.
APTMA Punjab members felt that laying off textile workers during the holy month of Ramadan would not be a wise decision, and any decision should be taken only after first discussing with the Government about possibility of supply of energy and at affordable rates.
Mr. Tanveer said the Punjab-based textile industry was on the verge of collapse and there has been US$ 500 million decrease in exports during the last two months. If the situation continues, the textile mills would not be in a position to procure cotton, which would badly affect cotton growers.
He appealed to the Government to ensure at least 16 hours a day electricity supply and eight hours a day gas supply to the Punjab textile mills, to save the textile industry from collapse.
The shutting down of the textile industry would affect about 10 million people, who are directly or indirectly dependent on the industry for their livelihood. On the other hand, it would also mean that Pakistan would not be able to take full advantage of the GSP Plus status granted to it by the European Union, Mr. Tanveer said.
