APTMA urges Jam to take steps to safeguard export sector

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has urged Commerce Minister Jam Kamal to take immediate measures to safeguard the country’s export sector amid regional energy supply disruptions. In a letter addressed to the minister, the APTMA chairman drew attention to the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the region and the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The situation, the association warned, is constraining the supply of oil and LNG to Pakistan, posing serious risks to the power sector and industrial energy security. APTMA stated that Pakistan’s current account deficit is expected to widen due to rising oil and LNG prices, while supply availability remains uncertain. At the same time, higher energy costs will directly undermine the competitiveness of the export sector. “This creates a double impact on the economy,” the association noted. “The dollar value of imports will increase significantly, while exports — already under pressure — will face further risk.”