ISLAMABAD: The textile industrialists have urged the government to extend support to enhance exports and create conducive environment for this purpose.
Aptma-Punjab Region Vice Chairman Sheikh Muhammad Akbar, while talking to the state-owned news agency said, “We are committed to enhancing the country’s exports of textile products which had decreased by 1.76 percent in pervious fiscal year (2014-15).”
He said that the Aptma has reposed full confidence in the policies of the government and specially Minister for Finance, Ishaq Dar for his efforts in resolving the issues of the textile industry aiming at reducing cost of doing business of the industry.
The Vice Chairman said that Aptma believed in resolving issues peacefully with the government and through negotiation. Our genuine demands were being taken seriously by the government to resolve them.
Sheikh Akbar said other leading associations of the textile industry including Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), All Pakistan Power-looms Association (APA) and the All Pakistan Sizing Industry Association (APSIA) have decided to prefer dialogue to any other option with government and hoped that their genuine demands would be taken care of.
He further vowed to enhance the regional trade and compete with other regional countries in textile sector and asked to authorities concerned to resolve the genuine problems of the industry.
Sheikh claimed that as compared to the other regional countries in Pakistan the member mills of Aptma were concerned about the high cost of doing business, including burdening of the industry with surcharges in electricity bills, and taxation on the export-oriented textile industry.
He also informed that the government was aware of industry’s problems as Aptma has already submitted a 7-point agenda to the Ministry of Commerce in this regard.
Vice Chairman Aptma appreciated, the government efforts to bring foreign investment in the country and said that signing of US$ 46 billion agreement China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a big achievement and that would support to exploring new avenues and help enhance the global and regional trade.
He maintained that smuggling and other ways of illegal trade was hurting the local industry and urged the government for resolving the issue and the problem of cost of doing business to protect the local market.
