APTMA Says 150 Textile Mills Shut as High Power Costs Cripple Industry
The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has warned of a deepening crisis in the textile sector, saying soaring electricity prices have forced the closure of 150 mills and left the industry on the brink of collapse.
Speaking at a press conference at the APTMA head office alongside other office-bearers, Central Chairman Kamran Arshad said the government must immediately declare an economic emergency. He criticized state priorities, saying resources were being spent on distributing vehicles to bureaucrats and building roads instead of creating jobs for the public.
Arshad said the textile industry is rapidly declining, noting that total exports fell by 19.55 percent in December, while textile exports dropped by eight percent. He said the closure of 150 mills reflects the severe impact of what he described as flawed government and IMF policies.
APTMA sources warned that continued policy missteps and what they termed a “harsh budget” could devastate the textile sector. The association has also rejected recent increases in gas prices, calling them unacceptable for an already struggling industry.
Kamran Arshad said the association is prepared to hand over the keys of closed industries to the government, adding that authorities should run the factories themselves if current policies continue.
Addressing the press conference, APTMA North Zone Chairman Asad Shafiq said the National Coordinator of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has also acknowledged that a Rs350 billion cross-subsidy should be withdrawn.
