Page 11 - January-February-2017

11

Energy tariff rationalization is a

must to boost textile exports

Chairman APTMA

The chairman of APTMA (All Pakistan Textile Mills to the textile industry that was not possible to be
Association), Mr. Aamir Fayyaz said that to boost passed on to the international buyers,” he stated.
exports and further investment, rationalization of While talking about the gas supply he said that the
energy tariff in textile industry is a must. government was providing it from and imported and
domestic sources with two different tariffs. “The
He delivered his views while addressing a press domestic supply is available at Rs600 per MMBTU
conference at the APTMA Punjab on Saturday, 4th against the imported supply at Rs950 per MMBTU,”
February 2017. Chairman APTMA Punjab Syed Ali he added.
Ahsan, besides the other office bearers, were also
present at the occasion. At the time when the He said that the textile mills heavily dependent on
chairman APTMA appreciated the export package of imported gas supply are deprived of a level playing
Rs. 180 billion from the federal government, he also field within the country. “The government should
pointed the energy costs that are yet hampering the introduce weighted average price of gas both for
textile industry. Textile industry of Pakistan is the domestic and imported supplies to encourage new
backbone of economy of Pakistan when it comes to investment in the textile industry,” he emphasized.
talk about exports. However it is not able to pass on
the high energy costs to its international buyers in the The chairman also demanded for the availability of the
tough competition in global market. electricity at the price rate of 7Pkr per unit and that of
10m cotton bales to reach Chairman APTMA also said that both gas and gas at 600Pkr per MMBTU, inclusive of the GIDC to
the textile industry, across the country. While
electricity are a major factor in cost of doing the textile
addressing the attendees he also said that the textile
ginneries in Pakistan business. Talking about electricity in particular he said industry of Pakistan will surely be benefited by the Pak
that the textile industry tariff is loaded with number of
China Economic Corridor only if the government
surcharges, inefficiencies of system and the recovery
ensures a level playing field to compete regionally and
losses. “The government was charging exorbitant tariff domestically.
Pakistan is witnessing an increase in cotton of over 10 million bales of Phutti had undergone the
production in the current year. About 1,06,34000 ginning process till the 1st of February 2017.
bales of Phutti (cotton seed) has reached the ginners
in all around Pakistan. This number has registered an Further, said in the report that the exporters
increase of around 10.63 % as compare to the purchased about 22,356 cotton bales. As that of the
production in last year. textile mills purchased 9,515,478 bales in recent
season. Apart from it, around 916,793 bales are still
According to the recent fortnightly report of the lying in the ginners as an unsold stock.
Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), a net