Half of KP’s textile mills have ceased operations, says KPTMA Chairman

PESHAWAR: In a joint press conference in Peshawar, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce President Fawad Ishaq and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textile Mills Association (KPTMA) Chairman Mohammad Kamran highlighted several critical issues affecting the industrial sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Fawad Ishaq noted that despite an excess production of gas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, new industrial gas connections have not been provided for 13 years. He pointed out the discrepancy in gas pricing, where the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) set the price at Rs.1238 per MMBTU, while the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) significantly increased it to Rs.2400 per MMBTU.

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Ishaq expressed concern over the dire state of industrialists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, equating their situation to bankruptcy. He mentioned the migration of a large number of industrialists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to other provinces, indicating a severe industrial crisis.

Further, the Sarhad Chamber President highlighted that those involved in the CNG business in the region are severely affected by these challenges. KPTMA chairman Mohammad Kamran, added that more than half of the textile mills in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have ceased operations, with 7 out of 14 textile mills currently closed.

These statements underscore the urgent need for intervention to address the industrial and economic challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the context of energy management and pricing policies.