Lahore Electricity Supply Company (Lesco) management has assured All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), Punjab of restoring electricity supply to the textile industry.
It may be noted that 12 hours a day load-shedding to the biggest cluster of the textile industry situated at Manga - Raiwind Road, Multan - Bhai Pheru under Lesco jurisdiction has resulted into huge production losses on daily basis. A sizeable workforce is also being hit hard due to the problem, as the affected units have no option but reduce workforce. This situation may lead to a serious law and order situation in the concerned areas.
Aptma spokesman said partiality towards the textile industry would be understandable when shortage/gap has considerably been overcome by the authorities. He demanded the government to provide uninterrupted power supply to the industry consumers on independent and grouped feeders, enabling it to achieve production mainly meant for exports. It may be noted that President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has declared 2011 as the Year of Textile. The industry is, therefore, keenly looking forward to achieve record export target of $14 billion this year.