The Textile Industry Associations of Punjab on Saturday demanded that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif should take practical steps to solve the longstanding issues of duty drawback and energy tariff faced by provincial industry sector. While addressing at a press conference, Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Aamir Fayyaz along with representatives of Pakistan Ready Made Garments Association, Pakistan Hosiery Manufactures Associations, Council of Power Looms Association, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association and Pakistan Knitwear & Sweater Exporters Association demanded that Shahbaz Sharif should play its role to end disparity of energy tariff for the industry of Punjab.
While apprehending closure of the Punjab-based textile industry due to energy price disparity, he also demanded that either the chief minister should talk to the federal government and convince them to end price disparity or the Punjab government should bear the difference of price like the East Punjab government in India.
He pointed out that textile industry in Punjab is 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 is being charged unfairly which cannot be passed on to the buyers.
The textile industry, as a matter of fact, has become uncompetitive both within the country as well as the region. The pending sales tax refunds and duty drawbacks are also hitting hard to the viability of industry, he added.
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