Pakistan's 2009-14 Textile Policy faces financial hurdles

28 Jul '12

2 min read

The shortage of funds seems to be inhibiting the Pakistan Government from implementing its Textile Policy 2009-14 in totality.

The Government has so far released only 20 percent of its Pk Rs. 123 billion allocated for textile export’s initiatives during the five-year period (2009-14).

Moreover, the Ministry of Textile Industry has been allocated only Rs. 150 million, which is 0.05 percent of the total funds allocated under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the current year.

Further, the textile industry in Pakistan is facing severe problems owing to shortage of gas and power necessary for production. The Textile Policy 2009-14 envisages that the textile industry be exempted from load-shedding and should be treated on par with the fertilizer industry.

The Federal Budget 2012-13 makes no provision for cotton research. The delay in introduction of Bt cotton is cited by experts as a reason for low cotton yield per hectare in the country, compared to other nations.

The textile sector has eight percent share in Pakistan’s GDP, 23 percent share in industrial output, 39 percent share in industrial employment and 57 percent share in the country’s total exports.

In view of the same, the Ministry of Textile Industry has urged the Senate’s Standing Committee on Textile Industry to provide sufficient allocation in the Federal Budget for cotton research and technological upgradation in the textile sector.

The Ministry has also sought financial allocation as per the Textile Policy for its implementation and enhancement of PSDP allocations for textile sector.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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