Energy Minister Assures Textile Sector to Resolve Issue

Staff Report

Minister for Power has assured support for textile Sector growth amid Export Concerns.

Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan, engaged in a dialogue with a delegation from the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA).

During this meeting, APTMA officials expressed their concerns regarding the dwindling exports within the textile sector, which has led to rising issues like unemployment and poverty.Textile Exports up 3% in March 2024

In response, the Minister reassured the delegation of the Government’s unwavering commitment to providing substantial support to the textile industry.

He mentioned ongoing efforts towards the implementation of a comprehensive wheeling policy, which is expected to significantly boost exports.

Furthermore, the Minister emphasized the Government’s keen interest in offering regionally competitive tariffs specifically tailored for the textile sector.

This strategic approach aims to unlock the sector’s full potential, targeting a substantial increase in exports up to $2 billion.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the Minister reiterated the Government’s swift actions towards improving the operations of DISCOS (Distribution Companies), with the primary goal of providing immediate relief to the textile sector.

The textile sector in Pakistan faces challenges due to high industrial power tariffs, exceeding the regional average significantly.

This disparity is notable compared to neighboring countries like India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.

The high energy costs are driving a decline in overall power consumption across the country, particularly in industrial and high-end domestic sectors.