The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) wants to purchase between 25 and 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the Punjab government under an upcoming power auction, seeking lower energy costs for the textile industry.

In a letter dated October 14 to Punjab Power Development Board Managing Director Sania Awais, APTMA said its members were interested in buying electricity through business-to-business or government-to-business agreements at competitive rates.

The Punjab government is considering participating as a power generator in the upcoming auction of the first 400 MW under the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) framework.

APTMA said high industrial electricity tariffs in Punjab had weakened the textile sector’s competitiveness, contributing to factory closures and deindustrialization. It expects the proposed market framework to increase competition and give industrial consumers access to more affordable electricity.

The association estimated that interested members could initially require between 25 MW and 50 MW, with demand potentially increasing depending on tariffs, commercial viability and supply conditions.

APTMA also asked the Punjab Power Development Board to share details of proposed power generation projects and discuss opportunities for private-sector participation, including potential investments by textile companies.

The association clarified that individual companies would decide whether to invest or participate after assessing the technical, financial and commercial feasibility of the proposals.

APTMA said it was willing to work with the provincial government to develop commercially viable electricity arrangements that lower industrial energy costs, improve competitiveness and support textile exports.