FAISALABAD: Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), Khurram Mukhtar, has urged the government to grant complete exemption to export-oriented industries from the proposed “smart lockdown” aimed at energy conservation.
He warned that imposing such restrictions on the export sector would lead to a further decline in exports and an increase in unemployment, dealing a severe blow to the national economy. He emphasized that modern textile units — particularly high-tech processing industries and spinning mills — cannot halt production for several days at the end of each week.
He explained that even a one-day shutdown could cause technical disruptions and significantly raise operational costs. “Forced closure of export industries will disrupt supply chains and delay export orders, undermining Pakistan’s competitiveness in the global market,” he said.
Mukhtar cautioned that international buyers prioritize timely and uninterrupted delivery, and any failure to meet deadlines could result in export orders shifting to competing countries. He stressed that enforcing a smart lockdown on export industries would damage Pakistan’s credibility in global markets. He urged the government to focus on enhancing productivity and efficiency to steer the country out of its economic crisis. Ensuring uninterrupted energy supply to export industries, he said, is crucial in this regard. He also suggested adopting alternative measures to manage the energy crisis, including strict fuel-saving policies in non-productive sectors and government departments.
