KARACHI: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has expressed interest in purchasing 25 to 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the Punjab government to reduce energy costs and improve the competitiveness of the textile industry.
In a letter dated October 14 to Punjab Power Development Board Managing Director Sania Awais, APTMA said its members were interested in purchasing electricity through business-to-business or government-to-business arrangements at competitive and sustainable tariffs.
The Punjab government is considering participating as a power generator in the upcoming auction of the first 400 MW under the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) framework. The initiative is expected to introduce competition in the electricity market and provide industries with access to more affordable power.
APTMA said high industrial electricity tariffs had weakened the competitiveness of Punjab’s textile sector, contributing to factory closures and deindustrialization. The association added that demand for electricity could increase beyond 50 MW, depending on commercial viability, tariff structures, and supply conditions.
The association also expressed interest in exploring private-sector participation in proposed power generation projects, including potential investments by its member companies. However, it clarified that any investment decisions would depend on individual companies’ technical, financial, and commercial assessments.
APTMA said it looked forward to working with the Punjab government and the power board to develop commercially viable solutions that reduce industrial energy costs, strengthen the textile sector, and support export growth.
