ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: The first round of talks between the textile industry and the government on the issue of 31 per cent increase in electricity tariff remained inconclusive on Wednesday but they would meet again on Friday to consider specific proposals to reduce industries’ cost of production.

A delegation of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), which had a meeting with water and power minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, said the hike in power tariff announced last week would make Pakistani textile products uncompetitive in the international market and would plunge the industry into losses. Therefore, the government should review the tariff increase so that the textile sector could survive and earn foreign exchange for the country, it added.

The minister told the delegation that the government would seriously look into the problems of the textile industry and “every possible relief would be provided to them”, an official statement said.

He said the government recognised the importance of the textile sector, being the backbone of the country’s economy. He asked the Aptma to come up with some rationale proposals on Friday, which would be taken up at the relevant forum for relief.

The minister informed the delegation about the current power crisis and asked them to cooperate with the government to reduce wastage of electricity through energy saving measures.

The Aptma agreed to come up with specific proposals and to extend full support to overcome the challenge of power crisis prudently and launch vigorous energy saving campaign in their units through installation of energy efficient equipment.