Duty-free import to hit Pak textile accessory units

27 Mar '07

3 min read

The textile ministry appears least bothered over the negative impact, which the textile and garment accessories manufacturers anticipate in case duty-free import of the material is allowed.

The duty-free import of textile and garment accessories is one of the main proposals submitted by the textile ministry to the government aimed at reviving the textile sector.

Chief Executive of Ahmad General Mills Masroor Ahmed Alvi, who is also the chairman of F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), said he had taken up the duty-free import proposal with Textile Industry Minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema on Wednesday at the foundation-laying ceremony of the Textile City but the minister had not taken it seriously.

Alvi pointed out that he informed the minister about the negative impact of the proposal and sought time for a meeting to discuss the issue in detail but the minister was least concerned. However, Mr Cheema requested him to send a detailed report if the accessories makers had some reservations over the duty-free import.

Joining the FBATI chairman, Mohammad Idris Gigi , chief executive of Gigi Industries and chief executive of Asli Pari Sewing thread Mohammad Irfan said that the local industry would suffer very badly in case duty free import is allowed. They said that over 90 per cent of garment accessories are manufactured in Pakistan while five to 10 per cent arrive through smuggling and under-invoicing.

They said a vast majority of textile accessories manufacturers (around 20 items including elastics, zippers, woven labels, buttons etc) were indirect exporters as 100 per cent of their products are being consumed by the direct exporters.

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