In protest against the Pakistan governments’ apathy towards the textile industry the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Punjab chapter has decided to shut down of mills once a week. However, the final verdict will be out next week as chairman APTMA Punjab Amir Fayez said some members were not present at the general body meeting.

Concerned with 40 percent depletion of cotton crop, Fayez feels it’s high time for the government to dismiss the head of cotton research institutions, instead it give authority to APTMA, which happens to be paying Rs 700 million in the shape of cotton cess. Fayez assailed the government for its negligence in taking appropriate measures to reduce deteriorating exports since July 2015. Surprisingly, the government has focussed on borrowed money from international sources. Whereas, textile exports have fallen down by $500 million per month which still remains unacknowledged. And as Fayez says electricity cost in Punjab and other provinces is relatively high which has led to closing down of about 70 mills. As a consequence, millers are left with no choice other than to sell mill to property developers or covert them into godowns.