Islamabad: Pakistan’s largest export sector, textiles, is facing a severe crisis due to high electricity prices in the country.
33% of the country’s textile factories were closed. Out of 568 textile mills, 187 have ceased operations, highlighting the dire state of the industry.
Punjab, the country’s largest province and a major center for textile production, has been hit hard by the crisis.
Of the 187 closed mills, 147 are in Punjab, followed by 54 in Sindh and Balochistan, and 6 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The closures include synthetic fibres, polyester and waste mills. In Punjab, major districts suffered major losses: 47 mills were closed in Kasur, 33 in Multan, 31 in Faisalabad, 17 in Sahiwal, and 11 in Sheikhupura.
The sources attribute the crisis to high electricity costs and difficult economic conditions in Pakistan, which made it difficult for textile factories to continue their operations.
The textile sector, the backbone of Pakistan’s exports, is now in dire need of government intervention to address these critical issues and prevent further closures.