Textile industry must be set free from sales tax - demands APTMA

17 May '05

2 min read

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman, Arif Saeed stated that the the government should make the textile industry free from the sales tax for augment of the sector in competitive global trade scenario.

Saeed also appealed for duty-free import of capital goods, machinery, raw materials and to spend more on infrastructure development to handle the surplus problems for exports.

Chief admires Mushtaq Ali Cheema, Textile minister and Humayun Akhtar Khan, Commerce Minister for their optimistic approach towards the issues arised in the textile industry.

Saeed explained that the developed countries provides subsidies to their clothing and apparel industries, that are pulling down the exports of Pakistani textile products.

He said ",The government should bail out the industry when it has sufficient fiscal space."

"The garments sector alone has generated 110,000 jobs in the country. But the recent pressure on the industry from the competitive countries has resulted in closing down of some units in the sector," he said.

Mr Saeed said the export figures show that exports of the value-added sector compared to basic textile have increased manifold, which is an encouraging sign,” he added.

The APTMA chief also draws attention polyester staple fibre producer were overcharging on grounds of expensive pertrochemical.

Saeed said that he is satisfied on the 6 pct reimbursement to the value-added sector,or, and anticipates that the government would facilitate the textile sector in the next budget.

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