Pakistan's textile policy to address carpet sector issues

03 Jun '14

2 min read

The new textile policy 2014-19 currently being prepared by the Ministry of Textile Industry, Government of Pakistan, would address major problems faced by the carpet industry, Secretary of the Ministry, Rukhsana Shah, has said, reports The Nation.

Ms. Shah said this when she visited the office of Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PCMEA) in Lahore, along with the delegation of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), last week.

The Textile Secretary said the Government was soon going to announce the new textile policy 2014-19, which would incorporate major issues related to the carpet industry, as the Government was determined to enhance exports of hand-knotted carpets for economic stability and growth.

She said the Government believes in consultation with all the stakeholders to evolve a consensus on the new textile policy, and this includes the carpet sector as it is also comes under the textile ministry.

According to her, practicing old methods and shortage of skilled manpower were the major hurdles in the growth of Pakistan’s carpet industry.

PCMEA central chairman Major (R) Akhtar Nazir Khan Cooki and vice chairman (Northern Zone) Kamran Razi sought representation of PCMEA in the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Board of Export Development Funds, as the hand-knotted carpet industry was one of the major export-oriented industries of Pakistan.

Mr. Cooki reiterated his demand for 10 percent rebate on carpets exported during the last six months to compensate for the harm caused to businesses due to the appreciation of the Pakistani rupee vis-à-vis the American dollar.

Mr. Razi said the Government should bring in necessary reforms and also provide special status to export-oriented carpet industry, besides allowing zero-rating facility.

During the visit, Mr. David Doolan, FAO manager for the USAID-funded project, briefed the PCMEA members about the Balochistan Agriculture Project, under which mechanical sheep shearing skills were imparted to Baloch farmers. He explained that the use of modern shearing equipment reduces the shearing time six-folds and also yields higher quality wool, which brings in more income.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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