LAHORE
The textile industry has urged the government to ensure uninterrupted energy supply to the mills throughout Punjab.
Acting Chairman APTMA Punjab Syed Ali Ahsan said that out of the total 235 member mills in Punjab, 58 member mills having no alternative source of energy are prime electricity users with 138 MW of load. Out of these, 25 mills with 55 MW load are located in LESCO jurisdiction. Five mills out of these are completely shut down, while others operate partially due to non-availability of energy
On 27th May, 2014, he said, the LESCO has shut down 10 grid stations in Lahore to take up electricity works for Metro Project. Unfortunately, the shutdown extended beyond the approved time period leading to difficulty for the people of effected areas. However, LESCO due to low demand because of shut grid stations afforded 1-2 hours relief to textile industry between 2PM to 4PM, which has been taken as corruption by LESCO. It has also been alleged that electricity to the industry was diverted from the domestic sector, which is incorrect.
Acting Chairman APTMA Punjab Syed Ali Ahsan has said that harassment of APTMA Punjab member mills is not acceptable, as no member mill of the association is involved in unauthorised use of electricity.
While holding a press conference at the APTMA Punjab office on Saturday, he said the LESCO’s relief in power supply on May 27 was of institutional nature and for the whole textile industry including the APTMA members across the board. Group Leader APTMA Gohar Ejaz was also present on the occasion, who said APTMA was also ready for energy audit of it member mills but no one will be allowed to disrespect them in any manner. He said APTMA members are pride of Pakistan and they should not be victimised on the basis of misunderstanding. The allegation of power theft is insulting for APTMA as well and I strongly object to it, he stressed. Acting Chairman APTMA Punjab said the Punjab-based APTMA member mills are supplied electricity by DISCOs through independent/grouped 11kv feeders with nearly zero losses against the weighted average of 21% losses of PEPCO.