KARACHI, April 28: More than half a million spindles have been closed down because of 10 per cent hike in electricity tariff by the Wapda, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) announced in a press release on Saturday while expressing its dismay over reports that the utility is embarking upon load shedding from next week.

“Textile is a continuous process industry and power interruptions and tripping adversely affect the quality of the whole production process right down the line,” the press release said while pointing out that frequent power breakdowns have already caused loss in production, exports and repeated damage to the machinery.

The Aptma has drawn attention of the government towards the falling markets and problems in export market to stress that in this fragile position the proposed load shedding from next week will be a final death blow to the textile industry.

The press release demanded that the textile industry should be spared of load shedding and given uninterrupted electric supply.