STAFF REPORT KHI: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman Tariq Saud, has appealed the prime minister and finance minister to issue directions for the reduction in industrial electricity tariff in line with the earlier announcement of Rs 3 per kilowatt-hour by the prime minister and remove the rationalisation surcharges from tariff to save the industry, exports and employment in the larger interest of economy.


Expressing his worries over the snub response from the ministry as well as the NEPRA, he urged for an immediate notification on the exact status of the same.


“The prevailing industrial tariff for December was about Rs 11.60 per kilowatt-hour,” he said adding that an announcement of reduction of Rs 3 per kilowatt-hour will bring it down to below Rs 9 per kilowatt-hour, in line with the electricity tariff of competitors in the region.


He further said that the export orders are not being processed as the textile industry is in a state of fix whether to exclude Rs 3 per kilowatt-hour from production cost or not while quoting rates to foreign buyers.


“Already, a production capacity worth $3.7 billion has been closed down. One major reason for this is the unaffordable power tariff, resulting in an exorbitant production cost,” he added.


Expressing his regrets on fact that the exports are being further burdened with incidentals of various taxes, levies and surcharges he said the government and the industry can jointly reverse the situation by working together.

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