Pakistan textile sector unhappy with govt over US ties

09 Jul '12

2 min read

The textile industry in Pakistan has expressed dissatisfaction with the Government over its revival of ties with the US, blaming it for failing to get any trade concessions from the US while reopening the country’s routes for Nato supplies.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has failed to convince the US for ‘trade, not aid’ and has reopened supply routes for Nato without setting any pre-condition, various textile bodies said.

The textile associations said the US government keeps delaying giving facilities like increased market access and Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) to Pakistan.

There not being any reference to ROZs in either the US or Pakistani press notes gives an impression that the idea of ROZs has been put on the back burner, they added.

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) lamented that the US is not serious in giving increased market access as well as ROZs and has been delaying the same for the last ten years.

Instead of releasing the supposed US$ 1billion amount under Kerry-Lugar bill, it would be better if the US agrees to give greater market access to Pakistani products, as that would not only bring such sum to Pakistan through trade route, but would also generate more employment in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the bed wear sector said the US and the EU do not delay in executing any policy if they are serious about it.

It expressed disappointment over the EU’s adoption of dilly-dallying technique in the implementation of Autonomous Trade Preferences (ATP) that aims to offer market access to 75 Pakistani items, most of which are textiles.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

More Textiles News - Pakistan...