Page 9 - January-February-2018
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textile industry’s viability
Textile industry associations met at APTMA (All Pakistan Textile Mills Assocation) house to deliberate upon
the issues concerning viability of the textile industry in Punjab.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the APMTA, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers
and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA),
Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA),
Council of Powerlooms Association, Pakistan Kintwear and Sweater Exporters Association (PAKSEA).
They were agreed to call on Punjab Chief Minister for securing uniform energy price. They also decided to
seek Chief Minister’s intervention for an immediate liquidation of the stuck-up refunds of sales tax. While
apprehending closure of Punjab-based textile industry, they urged the provincial government to either
secure a uniform energy price from the federal government or bear the price differential.
The textile industry leadership said that manufacturing units of spinning, weaving, dyeing, readymade
garments, hosiery, towel and other sectors were becoming redundant due to energy price disparity. Workers
of these mills were being laid off day in and day out, they said and asserted that both the backward and
forward linkages and allied sectors of the textile industry were facing the brunt of the situation.
They pointed out that textile industry in Punjab was paying Rs 1300 per MMBTU for RLNG against Rs 600
per MMBTU in other provinces. Similarly, the imposition of Rs 3.60 per kWh electricity surcharge in the electricity
bills was being charged unfairly which cannot be passed on to buyers in international marketplace.
The pending sales tax refunds and duty drawbacks, they mentioned, were also affecting the viability of the
industry. Earlier, APTMA Central Chairman Aamir Fayyaz gave a detailed presentation to the representatives
of various associations on current state of affairs in the textile industry.
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