The minister, while speaking about the energy shortage, said that the government was trying its best find a solution and that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has allowed the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to raise Rs20 billion for the Diamer-Bhasha dam. “Resolving the issue of energy is one of the priorities of the present government.”
On the issue of the imposition of a six percent import duty on polyester fibre, Aptma Chairman Ejaz Gohar stressed that the levy should be withdrawn since it was hurting the concept of a free trade regime and the millers were suffering because of the decision.
On the other hand, representatives of the domestic polyester industry said that the mentioned duty was introduced in order to protect the local producers. To find an amicable solution to the problem, Gohar proposed the formation of a committee comprising two members from both sides under the chairmanship of the textile minister.
Later, Aptma members – along with the textile minister – called upon Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to discuss the issue of quantitative restrictions imposed by India on the export of cotton.
Qureshi assured the delegation that the issue would be taken up at the highest level. He added that efforts will be made to convince India to honour the contractual sanctity, similar to what Pakistan has done in the case of onion exports to India.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2011.
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