Continuous short supply of electricity and gas to textile mills in Punjab has resulted in closure of one shift and lay off workers. It has put the textile industry operations in distress. S M Tanveer, Chairman of APTMA, has expressed deep concern over the issue and said that the Punjab’s textile mills are getting gas supply for six hours in a day while electricity is supplied 16 hours in a day.

The industry is left with mismatch of two hours a day and halting operations of the mills which seem to have forced to run it below capacity. The industry has been unable to produce goods for export or value added products which has created panic among the workers and their frustration in rising, he pointed out.

Appealing to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other concerned ministers to take stock of the situation and restore power supply. Tanveer pointed out that PM Nawaz Sharif had issued special directive to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the Punjab-based textile mills earlier. The NTDC has failed to obey the directive and the discoms are exposing textile mills to risks by not supplying power.