LAHORE: Textile exporters have appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to consider exports on a par with essential services amid the corona virus pandemic and bind Pakistani missions abroad to help sustain exports orders already in place with foreign buyers.
They urged the premier to give special instructions to the ambassadors, consul generals and trade officer/ commercial counsellors designated abroad in friendly countries to immediately approach the concerned ministries / departments/ buyers in respective countries with recommendations to maintain business with their Pakistani counterparts.
It was further urged to not cancel textile orders given to Pakistani exporters.
The appeals came from Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) Central Chairman Chaudhry Salamat Ali in a press release issued on Sunday.
Ali, in his letter to the Prime Minister, emphasised the need to use Pakistani foreign missions abroad convincing the buyers to maintain their business with Pakistani counterparts and not to cancel textile orders given to the Pakistani Textile industries.
Pakistan’s major textile export destinations are USA, EU, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, and Japan. Reportedly, many foreign buyers have cancelled their orders, several others have asked to slowdown production.
PHMA believes that exports, being the highest foreign exchange earner and employment provider, should also be treated on a par with essential services, Ali states in the letter.
He lauded the announcement of the federal government to allow the textile export industry to complete its orders in progress in 3 to 5 days while taking all precautionary and preventive measures. Nonetheless, the industries are totally closed in view of complete lockdown, he said.
The export orders of many PHMA member exporters are in progress, which will be completed in next few days, provided the government allow to operate the industries.
Exporters are highly perturbed and want to complete their pending/in process export orders so that they may complete export consignments and send shipments in next few days to avoid colossal financial losses, the letter further states.
The PHMA’s office-bearer requested the Prime Minister to order provincial governments to fully facilitate textile export industries in their respective provinces by giving special permission of transportation of export orders.
He said export industries are conscientious of Covid-19 and have taken all special preventive measures before the countrywide lockdown.
“Majority of industries have already made special arrangements regarding workers like sensing temperatures, observance of cough or flu condition, installation of sanitisers at time offices, regular fumigation, dedicated private transport for physically fit workers.,” the press released quoted Ali as having said.
