Value addition must for enhancing textile export: Minister

01 May '14

2 min read

Value addition across the entire textile chain is needed for increasing the value of textile and garment exports, Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan has said.

Speaking at a meeting with the members of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) in Karachi, Mr. Khan said he would like to see every staple length of cotton and yarn in Pakistan be used for domestic production of fabric and garments for export.

According to him, serious and well-planned efforts for enhancing value addition in the textile sector is needed for capturing greater share in the regional and international markets.

The Government of Pakistan has initiated a dialogue with Japan for free trade agreement (FTA), which is likely to be signed soon, the Minister informed APTMA members.

On the issue of removal of the existing 3.5 percent import duty being charged by China on export of yarn from Pakistan, the Minister said the Government has began work on FTA-II with China, as the FTA-I was signed in a hurry by the previous government.

On the energy crisis, the Minister said the Government is already working on several fronts in this regard and a big positive change is expected from 2016.

Mr. Khan said his Ministry will take up the issue of sales tax refunds with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and seek early release of the over Pk Rs. 3 billion for the textile sector.

In order to compensate the losses on account of the appreciation of the Pakistani rupee vis-à-vis the American dollar, the Ministry of Commerce has proposed an export refinance scheme at concessionary rates for the benefit of the textile industry, the Minister said.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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