ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the government is giving priority to textile industry and will make it the leading foreign exchange earner for the country.
The minister said this during a meeting with representatives of the textile industry to discuss their proposals for the budget 2015-16. Chairman FBR, Tariq Bajwa and Advisor Finance Division Rana Assad Amin were also present on the occasion.
The minister was told the issues and difficulties faced by the textile industry of which energy, the senior reps observed, was the major problem. They opined that the textile sector faced stiff competition and challenges from textile industries of other countries in the region which affected textile exports from Pakistan. If only, they could be sure of regular supply of gas which was an economical source of energy for the textile sector, they would be in a position to streamline production process and try to match the quality products from other countries.
The minister agreed that energy problem was affecting the whole economy including the textile sector but serious efforts were being made to resolve the issue.
He said promotion of textile industry was the key to overall industrial and economic development in the country. He added that the textile sector would be facilitated in the next budget as much as possible but the fact remained that all sectors had an obligation to pay taxes to strengthen the economy.
Those who attended the meeting included M. Zubair Motiwala, Council of Pakistan Textile Association, Jawed Bilwani, Pakistan Apparel Forum, Saleem Pakekh, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association, Ijaz A. Khokhar, Pakistan Readymade Garment Manufacturers & Exporter Association, Khwaja Mohammad Usman, Pakistan Cotton Fashion Apparels Manufacturers & Exporters Association, Rafiq Habib Godil, Pakistan Knitwear and Sweater Exporters Association, Syed Aasim Shah, All Pakistan Bed Sheets & Upholstery Manufactures Association, Khalid Kandil, All Pakistan Cotton Power Looms Assn, Khalid Habib Sheikh, All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association, Saikh Ayub, APTPMA, Pervaiz, APTPMA Lahore and Amjad Khan, APTPMA.
