KARACHI, Oct 11: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has shown its resentment over the proposed 50 per cent increase in electricity rate with respect to B-3 industrial tariff.

Aptma chairman Muhammad Iqbal Ibrahim said that the hike would increase the tariff disparity between textile industry drawing power from Wapda and KESC and those mills which were using other alternate sources of energy, and this could result in closing down of more than 150 textile mills.

In a statement issued on Saturday, he demanded a rationalised electricity tariff for the textile industry so that the average cost of energy would remain the same.

He strongly condemned the unbearable rise in the electricity tariff and said that in recent meetings with the minister for water and power and the authorities concerned, the association was given assurance that they would come up with equitable solution so that energy cost of Wapda/KESC was not sharply increased.

He further said that Aptma delegation submitted a formal proposal in this respect during the meeting.