LAHORE: The textile industry has urged the authorities concerned to immediately reduce power tariffs for the industry by Rs3 per kilowatt hour (kwh) in compliance with the prime minister’s announcement.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced relief in electricity tariffs from January 1, 2016 for the export-oriented textile industry in December last year, but no notification has been made public so far.
The prevailing industrial tariff for December FPA adjusted comes to about Rs11.60 per kwh. The announced reduction of Rs3/kwh will bring it down to below Rs9 per kwh and get arched with electricity tariff of competitors in the region.
All Pakistan textile Mills Association (Aptma) Chairman Tariq Saud has said that it is yet a regretful fact that the exports are also being further burdened with incidentals of various taxes, levies and surcharges.
Already, a production capacity worth $3.7 billion has been closed down, he said adding that one major reason for this is the unaffordable power tariff, resulting into an exorbitant production cost.
