APTMA assails MEPCO for not obeying govt’s subsidy decision

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has asked the government to take immediate action against MEPCO (Multan Electric Power Company) for refusing to give subsidy and issuing additional bills to consumers.

In a letter to the Ministry of Commerce, the APTMA said the MEPCO chief had not accepted a notification issued by the Power Division and also ordered to disconnect the connections of textile mills in case of not paying the electricity bills.

The letter says that the Power Division in its notification had fixed 7.50 cents per tariff for the textiles mills and gave April 7 as deadline to pay the bills.

Requesting the ministry to take necessary action, the APTMA noted that thousands of workers were associated with the industry, who faced the threat of employment if the units were closed.

It is important to note that the government had accepted a key demand of textile mills owners and other exporters last month on Feb 26 to lower the utilities rates.

Under the move, they are required to pay 7.5 cents per unit for electricity and $6.5 per unit for gas till June 30.

The government had also agreed to immediately withdraw electricity bills with effect from Jan 19, 2020, which included surcharges and other adjustments.