KARACHI: Textile processors are facing an acute shortage of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a chemical widely used in processing, dying, bleaching and printing of grey fabric.

All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) on Tuesday lodged a complaint with the government and accused local manufacturers for abruptly reducing the supply of the chemical.

“The textile industry is the single largest consumer of hydrogen peroxide. The current acute shortage of the raw material is drastically affecting processing activities,” APTPMA chairman Saleem Parekh said.

“The shortage has already pushed hydrogen peroxide prices higher and if the government does not take any action, a large scale shut-down of the processing industry is inevitable, thereby affecting exports of textile fabrics and made-ups,” Mr Parekh added.

He urged the government to allow import of hydrogen peroxide on zero duty for the textile industry till such time local supply is back to normal in terms of price and delivery.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2018