The Senate was informed Tuesday that Textile industry was worst affected during last four years with 40,000 power looms converted to scrap and 10,000 closed partially collectively leaving more than 100,000 poor laborers unemployed. Minister for Textile Makhdoom Shahabuddin informed the House that power outage, rising power tariff, non-availability of raw material, heavy losses in business and increase in cost had been the key reasons behind this crisis. The House could take up just two questions during the question hour as most of the questions pertained to opposition who were not present in the House while four question related to Ministry of Industries and Production were deferred due to non-availability of the Minister for Industries and Production and the State Minister. Amidst assurances to cope with the challenge of power shortage, the minister admitted that this sector was the worst affected sector and 10,000 power looms were closed partially due to financial losses, excessive increase in rates of electricity, fuel price adjustment charges and sales tax etc. He stated, although he had not the exact figure, yet it is estimated that 30,000 poor laborers like weavers, winders, munshi and masters were rendered unemployed while the total number of unemployed related to power loom and sizing sector could touch the 100,000 mark. But, the questioner, a coalition partner Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi doubted the figure and claimed it could have many hundred of thousands laborers who lost their jobs owing to closure of industry due to power crisis and increasing power tariff. He said if only the installed capacity could be fully utilized and the issue of circular debt could have addressed, the situation had been definitely improved. The minister replied that a law is being envisaged where it will be made mandatory that every industrial unit would provide the exact information. “Steps are being taken and we hope the situation will improve within next two to three months.” He said the Textile Ministry was nobody to address the issue of power shortage. We are facilitating the industry and the government is also concerned about this situation. When Senator Ilyas Bilour said, the industry is at the verge of collapse and the figure of unemployed could have been much more, the minister said, there is a possibility that the answer was prepared by a non-professional young man.
