LAHORE: The delay in announcement of relief package for the textile industry by the government is increasing unemployment in Punjab.
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Punjab Chairman Aamir Fayyaz said this in a statement. He said more than two dozen mills have been totally closed down in the province while a large number of mills have reduced their operations to one or two shifts, which has left thousands of textile workers jobless.
He said the exports data of last four months was showing a significant decline in textile exports but the government was delaying the announcement of textile package since August.
Fayyaz lamented that the month of November is near to an end but there is no clue of any textile package by the government. “The textile workers are losing their jobs one after another and the government is yet considering the textile package,” he argued.
He said the textile industry is considered to be the growth engine and employment generator in the region but the government in Pakistan is showing a cold shoulder to the textile industry, which is quite confusing.
He said the government was not announcing a long term policy for revival of textile industry relative to India, Bangladesh and China where extensive support is being provided to the textile industry for mass job creation. He said the textile exports have declined in terms of quantity and value, which is leading to job losses of textile workers.
Textile industry of Punjab, which is about 70% of total textiles of Pakistan, is facing serious viability issues due to unprecedented energy cuts whereas industries in other provinces are being provided gas supply on continuous basis throughout the year.
