Electricity issues: Power loom owners threaten to shut down industry

Overbilling, prolonged gas outages cited as constant source of worry.

FAISALABAD: The power loom owners have threatened to close down the industry after Muharram 10 (December 6) over issues of electricity overbilling and prolonged gas outages.

The loom owners said that the industry was the backbone of the economy, but it had been sinking due to three-day gas loadshedding and fuel price adjustment and equalisation charges in electricity bills.

They said that the price of electricity for the looms industry had increased from Rs9.50 to Rs14.50 per unit after fuel adjustment and equalisation charges.

“If the government does not resolve the issue of fuel adjustment and equalisation charges, the power loom operators will shut down their industries after Muharram 10,” said Waheed Khaliq Ramaay, Chairman of the Council of Loom Owners Faisalabad, while talking to The Express Tribune.

More than 250 loom owners of the city have taken a stay order from court against fuel adjustment and equalisation surcharges. They would not pay their electricity bills until the government withdraws these charges, Ramaay added.

It is not possible for them to bear high charges in electricity bills as well as three days of loadshedding, said representatives of auto shuttleless loom operators.

There are more than 225,000 power looms and 70,000 auto shuttleless looms in Faisalabad, employing thousands of workers.

The loom owners warned that if these matters are not resolved before the 10th of Muharram they will go on strike and stage protest in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2011.