APTMA says govt’s efforts too little, too late

Wants all its points addressed to arrest declining exports

KARACHI: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman Tariq Saud has expressed concern over an across-the-board drop in textile exports in the month of December 2015, saying that the government has not been listening to the association to redress the situation.

“Aptma has been repeatedly pointing towards the worrying trend over the last six months but to no avail. Now the government has gotten too little, too late to reduce the cost of doing business,” he added.

“The drop in textile exports is not a single-month phenomenon; exports have been severely affected in the last six months,” he added, “This downward trend has persisted for two years.

“Textile exports have nose-dived, from yarn to the value added sector, both in value as well as in quantity,” he stressed.

“We have been monitoring the trend and calling for the government’s attention through a number of presentations in official meetings,” he said, adding that it is unfortunate that the government has delayed the revival package despite a clear announcement by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his September 11, 2015 meeting with the industry representatives.

Saud said the textile exports have consequently plunged in all categories right from yarn to value added products. He added the failure of cotton crop in Punjab was enough to add fuel to the fire so far as the high cost of doing business is concerned.

He said the government should immediately adopt the six-point revival proposal for textile industry. These include liquidation of refunds, removal of gas cess and electricity surcharge.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd,  2016.

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