The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has announced a strike against an increase in the power rates and taxes on August 7.
In a statement, APTMA Chairman SM Tanvir said that exports were reducing due to the government policies. He said that the government had imposed power bills amounting to Rs 100 billion on the textile sector to fill the gaps in its exchequer caused by power pilferage and line losses. He said that in 2013 the per unit price of electricity was Rs 8 while the price of per barrel of oil in international market was $109 whereas in 2015 when the price of oil was hovering around $50 per barrel the government had raised the electricity prices to Rs 14 per unit, which was unjustified.
The APTMA chief claimed that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was not ready to hold a meeting with the association over the issue which is why they had now decided to call a strike on August 7.
It is pertinent to mention here that the traders’ associations have also called for a strike on Aug 1 to protest against the government for imposing withholding tax on banking transactions.
