Pakistan exporters demand revival of textile sector

He requested the FPCCI to take a stand because the scheme was for all the exporters, even those engaged in value-addition. Lakhani said that billions of rupees were stuck in shape of rebate of duty and local taxes, despite clear instructions provided under the textile policy 2009-14 that the same should be cleared instantly.

Prominent textile exporter, Shaikh Manzar Alam said that the Pakistan has lost over an amount of $70 billion on USA’s war on terror and it was our due right to demand full market access to US market.

Former Chairman Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association, Naqi Bari said that the textile sector was the largest employment generation sector in Pakistan which needs to be saved from disaster and it’s the high time to demand greater market access from USA. He said that government should hire lobbyist in USA and EU for lobbying. He warned that country is going backward by exporting raw material.

Vice President FPCCI, Rukhsana Jahangir said that the SME sector was facing immense difficulties in availing bank financing. She said that contamination free cotton should be produced instead of importing raw cotton. Asif Maroof criticised the role of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) that it had failed to project local products in foreign markets. Dr Shahzad Arshad, chairman standing committee of FPCCI on textile, said that due to economic slowdown the value-added sector had resorted to 40 percent job cuts.

He also criticised the role of commercial councilors in foreign countries. Siddique Shaikh, Chairman, FPCCI Standing Committee on R&D, at the end of the meeting said that the textile sector should identify 10 potential countries where the FPCCI would send experts to train commercial councilors, which would help in boosting the country’s exports.

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry