‘Govt responsible for decline in textile exports’
Pakistan Apparel Forum chairman says delay in refunds hurting exporters
PHOTO: REUTERS
KARACHI:
Pakistan Apparel Forum Chairman Muhammad Jawed Bilwani said Saturday that the government is responsible for the current decline in textile exports because of its delay in refunds to exporters.
According to Bilwani, the government still hasn’t released Rs250 million to exporters which has hurt the textile industry.
Despite govt support, Pakistan’s textile industry lags behind
“This is not a business friendly government which it previously claimed to be,” he said. “The country’s exports, especially from the textile industry, are not among the government’s priorities. The textile ministry is still being run without a minister and the delaying tactics in payment of refunds has brought disastrous effects.”
The textile exports have reduced by 2.53% in February 2017 compared to the same month in the previous year, according to a recent report compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Meanwhile, exports in February 2017 decreased by 6.48% compared with the previous month.
Textile bodies put off black day protest plan
The Pakistan Apparel Forum chairman lamented that the current government’s marginalisation of the export sector is the primary reason for the fall in numbers.
“When the PML-N-led government took over in 2013, Pakistan’s exports in fiscal year 2012-13 were $24.5 billion, where textile exports stood at $12.8 billion. However, exports saw a drastic decline in fiscal year 2015-16 after coming down to $20.8 billion, while the share of textile industry was still stagnant at where it was in 2012-13,” he said.
Bilwani added that if the government fails to control the situation, then it would further deteriorate in the coming months. “To provide breathing space to the industry, it is important that refunds to exporters be released on priority basis; otherwise, the country’s export targets cannot be achieved.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2017.
Pakistan Apparel Forum Chairman Muhammad Jawed Bilwani said Saturday that the government is responsible for the current decline in textile exports because of its delay in refunds to exporters.
According to Bilwani, the government still hasn’t released Rs250 million to exporters which has hurt the textile industry.
Despite govt support, Pakistan’s textile industry lags behind
“This is not a business friendly government which it previously claimed to be,” he said. “The country’s exports, especially from the textile industry, are not among the government’s priorities. The textile ministry is still being run without a minister and the delaying tactics in payment of refunds has brought disastrous effects.”
The textile exports have reduced by 2.53% in February 2017 compared to the same month in the previous year, according to a recent report compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Meanwhile, exports in February 2017 decreased by 6.48% compared with the previous month.
Textile bodies put off black day protest plan
The Pakistan Apparel Forum chairman lamented that the current government’s marginalisation of the export sector is the primary reason for the fall in numbers.
“When the PML-N-led government took over in 2013, Pakistan’s exports in fiscal year 2012-13 were $24.5 billion, where textile exports stood at $12.8 billion. However, exports saw a drastic decline in fiscal year 2015-16 after coming down to $20.8 billion, while the share of textile industry was still stagnant at where it was in 2012-13,” he said.
Bilwani added that if the government fails to control the situation, then it would further deteriorate in the coming months. “To provide breathing space to the industry, it is important that refunds to exporters be released on priority basis; otherwise, the country’s export targets cannot be achieved.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2017.