Shafqat Elahi, Chairman, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Punjab zone, praised the Cabinet for approving of SAFTA and said that Pakistan was keen to strengthen relations with the Saarc member countries.
He informed that to protect the interests of domestic textile industry, APTMA will be joining hands with organizations like PHMA, PRGMEA and APBEA to assist trade and set up a Trade Monitoring and Facilitating Committee that would regulate the issues such as Rules of Origin.
APTMA also insisted on early identification of non-tariff barriers and their elimination through a fast track consultative procedure.
It was suggested that the Government of Pakistan should at least equal the incentives offered by the governments of other regional countries.