APTMA assured of uninterrupted power supply

LAHORE: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) Ch Muhammad Amin has assured the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) of incessant supply of electricity to the industry during winter season.
Amin said that extraordinary measures are being adopted to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the export-oriented industry of the country without any shutdowns, interruptions, fluctuations, tripping etc.
He made this assurance while talking to APTMA delegation headed by Mr. Hamid Zaman, Chairman APTMA Northern Zone and including Mr. Kamran Arshad, Senior Vice Chairman, Mr. Aamir Sheikh, Mr. Raza Baqir, Executive Director and Mr. Tahir Basharat Cheema, Energy Advisor APTMA.
CEO, LESCO assured that no punitive action would be taken against the industry if the consumption exceeds sanctioned load provided that the consumption remains within 5 MW. He asked APTMA to urge their members to apply for extension of load if required by them and committed that LESCO would process their applications on priority.
For immediate redressal of industry issues, LESCO Chief appointed Mr. Tariq Usman, Director Commercial and Mr. Muhammad Ashfaq, Deputy Manager as focal persons from LESCO and Mr. Raza Baqir from APTMA was also formed to attend the problems and issues.
While taking up the issues confronting smooth functioning of APTMA member mills in the province, Mr. Hamid Zaman pointed out that an extreme voltage fluctuation, besides excessive interruptions, is proving fatal for the export-oriented textile industry and demands immediate redressal.
Zaman said that textile industry operates 24/7 for 365 days and heavy fluctuation of electricity supply hits its productivity badly that ultimately affects the exports of the country.
He stressed CEO LESCO should shift the industry load to other grid stations for smooth uninterrupted electricity supply to industry during scheduled grid maintenance.
Chairman APTMA Northern Zone also took up the issue of exchange rate for calculation of electricity bills of the export-oriented sectors. CEO, LESCO committed to examine the issue in consultation with legal wing and APTMA.
Senior Vice Chairman APTMA Mr. Kamran Arshad took up the issues of individual member mills with CEO LESCO on the occasion and appealed for early resolutions of the same.
CEO LESCO said the textile industry has contributed to the exports of the country and job creation immensely, but it is also bringing in investment to the country and LESCO has always been attentive to its issues. He assured of resolving all major issues of the industry for its smooth operations in the larger interest of the country’s economy and prosperity.