Grievances: Textile lobbies join hands to form ‘pressure’ group

Move meant to represent core issues of the textile industry

LAHORE: In a bid to ensure their voices are well heard by the country’s administration, Punjab-based textile associations, on Friday, joined hands to form a pressure group.

The collaboration is meant to represent the core issues of the industry at appropriate forums.

The Punjab Chapters of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA) and All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) unanimously called the country’s prime minister to take ownership of the industry’s woes.

The associations alleged that cabinet members are not addressing their issues, resulting in further chaos for the stakeholders.

“The Punjab-based textile sector needs only eight hours of the premier, two hours each on a quarterly basis,” said PRGMEA Chairman Ijaz A Khokhar, in a joint press conference.

“We now have to save the entire textile chain and the crisis is not limited to any one segment of the sector,” he added.

The chairmen of textile lobbies claimed that they are in competition within the country as the cost of doing business did not allow Punjab to compete at the international level.

“We have already lost our credibility in the international market and as a result our product line has shrunk,” Khokhar added.

Aptma Chairman Aamir Fayyaz said that for the last ten days, Punjab’s industry is feeling increasing pressure as the government has reduced the price of gas for Sindh to Rs400 per mmbtu, whereas for Punjab based industries RLNG mixed gas is available at Rs930 per mmbtu.

“How is the textile based province expected to compete with this much disparity in utility prices? Gas prices should be similar as electricity prices,” he added.

The textile lobbies also demand that the PM immediately announce the textile package and appoint a textile minister.

“We are amazed that the textile sector, contributing almost 60% of export revenue, does not have a minister, which means there is not a single competent person in the government and cabinet who can understand the entire structure of the sector believed to be the back bone of the industry,” they added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2016.

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