Textile sector grinds to a halt due to power suspensions

PTEA asks govt to take notice of ‘forced’ suspension of dedicated power feeders.

FAISALABAD: The textile sector of the industry’s hub has incurred massive losses on account of forced closure of industrial feeders and cutting of industrial connections by the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco). Consequently, activities have come to a halt, rendering millions of daily-wage employees redundant.

In a press conference on Tuesday, the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) criticised the closure of dedicated electricity feeders and disconnection of industrial connections by Fesco and termed it an “anti-industrial act”.

Textile sector is incurring a financial loss of over Rs1 billion daily due to sudden power outages.

Gas and electricity are basic fuels for the industry and their uninterrupted and adequate supply is crucial for the textile sector to operate production divisions, they said. Industrial production has already gone down by 50% due to gas suspensions, in addition to the rising cost of business.



Energy supply and economic growth are interlinked and power suspensions are hampering the pace of industrial growth in the country, they argued.

PTEA Chairman Asghar Ali was of the view that non-serious attitude of the government was the root of the problem.

Due to severe shortages of gas and electricity, textile exports have plunged and the industry is left with no other choice but to shut down their units.

Lack of long-term planning is also one of the major causes behind the energy crisis which has paralysed Pakistan’s business activities, Ali said. Pakistan has already lost a number of international markets, while the state of both local and foreign investment is also precarious.

PTEA officials demanded the caretaker government and officials of the Ministry of Water and Power to take notice of cutting industrial connections and forced closure of dedicated industrial feeders in Faisalabad. They further demanded that the government should ensure constant power supply to the industries.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2013.

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