KARACHI, Aug 25: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association chairman Iqbal Ibrahim has sought exemption for all export-oriented textile units from the hike in electricity tariff being proposed by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) as he believes that any additional levy will bring total closure of the industry.

In a statement on Monday the Aptma chief reminded that the textile industry was the best customer of Wapda and it had maintained an immaculate record of paying their liabilities on time.

He said that power distribution companies of Wapda were reporting electricity line losses from 12 to 35 per cent, whereas line losses of textile sector on independent feeders were less than two per cent.

He proposed a separate electricity tariff for the textile industry.