Industrialists, exporters reject power tariff raise

Industrialists and exporters have expressed grave concern over the fresh increase in electricity bills through the imposition of rupees 2.04 per unit as fuel adjustment charges and feared that this increase would yield negative impact over the national production and exports.
Talking to newsmen, Chaudhry Salamat Ali, Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (North Zone) said that the severe load-shedding of electricity is continuously going on, while government authorities are increasing electricity bills and creating severe problems for the export-oriented textile industry and people.
He said that the second largest export-oriented sector of the country is already confronting severe financial crisis - and now gas, power load-shedding are adding fuel to fire, making meeting export orders, committed by textile exporters and manufacturers with their valued foreign buyers and customers, extremely difficult. They were vigorously engaged in the promotion of country's exports but unable to compete with international prices of textile goods after value addition offered by the Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi manufacturers. Resultantly, investors are also shy to invest in this sector, he added.
PHMEA chairman said that the increased bills of electricity is remain "key concern for the textile sector", while costly production of electricity is not solution of misery of people and industrialists. He pointed out that low cost electricity to textile industry is a solution to solve the crisis, however, the gradual increase in electricity tariff and bills is 'black hole' for the industrial sector. He demanded that fresh increase in electricity bills through imposition of Rs 2.04 per unit, as fuel adjustment charges should be withdrawn.