LAHORE: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Central Chairman Tariq Saud has urged the government to put the import of Indian yarn, fabric and garments on negative list.
He was talking to journalists at the APTMA Lahore office informing them that the textile industry observed a very successful countrywide black day by closing down operations throughout the country on Wednesday.
“It was a successful strike and all the textile mills, including leading groups in spinning, weaving and spinning sectors, right from Karachi to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained closed,” he said. “It is highly unfortunate that the current circumstances forced us to hold black day to mark our protes,” he said.
He further pointed out that the competitors in regional countries are getting full support of their respective governments to enhance production.
“A drop of 21 percent in country’s exports for the month September 2015 against the corresponding period in Pakistan must by an eye-opener for the government. It is because of the burden of surcharges on the industrial electricity bills and an uncontrolled dumping of subsidized goods from India to hurt domestic market,” he added.
“I urge the government to withdraw surcharges on electricity bills straight away, make sure uninterrupted energy supplies and put the import of Indian yarn, fabric and garments on negative list to save the domestic commerce,” he demanded.