RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The representatives of different textile industry associations of Punjab will hold a consultative joint session Saturday (today) to evolve a joint strategy to encounter challenges faced by textile and its allied industry.

In this session the participants will consider all options including closure of the industry, observance of black day and organize protests in order to secure the viability of the Punjab industry.

According to the spokesperson of the APTMA the industry in Punjab was presently being charged Rs1250/MMBTU for gas as compared to gas supply to the industry in other provinces at Rs600/MMBTU. Similarly, electricity in Punjab was being provided to the textile exporting industry along with surcharges of Rs3.60/KWH [Tariff Rationalization (TR) and Financial Cost (FC)]. The textile industry in Punjab is saddled with the burden of non-recovery of bills and electricity theft of others, a factor of inefficiency that cannot be passed on to the international buyer.