All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Patron-In-Chief Gohar Ejaz Monday sent a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to express his concerns regarding the continuous decline in exports.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, Gohar Ejaz has realized the PM that it is not possible to achieve the export target of $26 billion this year as the government is not offering any kind of subsidy to the textile sector. In the last four years, an average of 2.67 percent subsidy was given to the export sector, he added.
He appealed to Prime Minister in his letter to take emergency measures to save the export sector.
Gohar Ejaz told the PM that there is a risk of unemployment for 10 million people in Punjab as energy rates are very high in Punjab compared to Sindh.
He further explained to the PM that energy prices for the export sector in Pakistan are higher than in the region. “The export sector in India gets energy at 8 cents, Bangladesh at 10 cents while the exporters of Pakistan are getting energy at 16 cents.”
He urged Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, that the electricity rate of Rs 19.99 per unit should be fixed across the country for the export sector.
The government should give gas to the captive power plants on a priority basis for the export sector.
Gohar Ejaz in his letter also emphasized the government to set the same rate of gas for the export sector in the entire country
Gas prices should be set at $7 per MMBTU for the supply of LNG to the export sector across the country.
The government should review its policy for the betterment of the country, he concluded.