All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has urged the government to ensure uninterrupted energy supply ahead of summer to textile industry in Punjab having witnessed a decline of 13 percent month-on-month basis as per the overall exports data for February 2015.

According to Aptma Chairman S M Tanveer, high cost of production is rendering textile industry uncompetitive in the international market place. Moreover, the competitors are being supported by government in terms of incentives, which is taking away Pakistan’ share in international market.

Around 35 percent of textile export was exposed to euro, which has appreciated heavily. In addition, industry has not been passed on the benefits of falling oil prices to date. Also, utility charges are the same as before rather being tipped to be raised with effect from April.

The government has been also urged to issue instruments like TUFS, DLTL, duty structure on man-made fiber and State Bank of Pakistan schemes under recently-announced textile policy at the earliest to hold dwindling viability of textile industry.