LAHORE - Following significant reduction in hydel power generation due to unprecedented floods in the country the electricity loadshedding has not only been increased for domestic consumers but also in industrial sector where independent feeders are facing power shortages of more than 10 hours.
Presently, Lesco domestic consumers are facing power breakdowns of more than 12 hours while industry connected to independent feeders is bracing electricity suspension of around 10 hours.
Industry stakeholders said that the government had reduced electricity loadshedding to 8 hours a day a few days back, enabling the industry to improve productions for increase in exports of the country. However, the textile millers were surprised over an increase in loadshedding to 10 hours a day once again.
According to APTMA Punjab chairman SM Tanveer, withdrawal of two hours a day electricity will have nominal impact on other consumers but it will lead to one shift closure for the Punjab-based textile industry. This will further end up on unemployment, impact on cotton economy besides disruptions in the supply chain of textile goods predominantly meant for exports, he apprehended. Chairman APTMA Punjab expressed concerns over increase in electricity load shedding for Punjab-based textile industry, consequent to closing down of one shift operations of textile mills on independent feeders. He said in view of the current low temperature, maximum hydel generation and reduced demand due to the unfortunate inundated flood areas of the province and to some extent in the KPK and Sindh, it is difficult to understand the motive behind increase in load shedding for Punjab industry.
Chairman APTMA Punjab has appealed to the government to enable the industry to perform up to the optimum level and contribute to the national economy in a befitting manner. He has expressed the hope that the government will restore electricity supply immediately to the textile industry. He further appealed to the Ministry for Water & Power to completely exempt 58 textile mills on independent feeders solely dependent on electricity supply so as to restore of their viability.