Daily Times

LAHORE: A roundtable conference of textile industry associations has demanded the government to immediately announce a revival package to rescue dwindling textile exports.

The conference was held to allow the textile industry leadership to formulate a joint strategy for restoration of viability of all sectors of textile industry, particularly in Punjab.

The conference was held at the APTMA office on Friday, and was attended by the office bearers and representatives from textile industry associations including the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA), Pakistan Knitwear and Sweaters Exporters Association (PAKSEA) and Council of Power looms Association.

APTMA Chairman Aamir Fayyaz, Vice Chairman Pervez Lala, PTEA Chairman M Naeem, PAKSEA Chairman Shahzad Azam and Tariq Fayyaz from PRGMEA addressed the conference.

Participants demanded standardised energy tariff across the country with availability of gas at a uniform rate and availability of electricity at Rs 7 per unit. A joint communiqué agreed by the participants sought a level playing field for the textile industry to flourish.

They urged the government to immediately announce a package for the textile industry to mitigate the energy tariff disparity that was hitting 70 percent of the textile industry in Punjab as compared to the textile units located in other provinces.

The conference also revisited the proposed textile package and expressed its concern over delay in its announcement, saying that the industry was losing export orders for the Heimtextil Exhibition to be held in January 2017 in Frankfurt.

Participants said that revival of 35 percent of closed units was being delayed and the industry was not making new investment decisions because of the prevailing uncertainty. They added that the industry had suffered a lost $350 during the last two years.

They urged the prime minister to not only announce the much-awaited textile package but also start holding regular meetings with the textile industry.