Government’s wish-list seems far-fetched: Bilwani

Pakistan Apparel Forum chief welcomes move but questions how.

KARACHI:

Pakistan Apparel Forum Chairman Jawed Bilwani has welcomed comments of Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan on creating new jobs through revival of sick textile units but said that it will be highly challenging due to the energy shortage in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Bilwani said the remarks of Dastagir Khan on “re-operating closed textile units” to enhance its annual exports by $1 billion and create 100,000 new jobs is really surprising.

“The government’s intention appears promising but at a time when inadequate gas and electricity supply is creating problems for the active factories, how will the government provide utilities to sick textile units?” he asked.

“Many textile factories are heavily burdened and struggling to run their business and meet their foreign buyers’ commitments owing to severe load-shedding and inadequate infrastructure.”

The chairman further added that if the idea of re-operating the dead units is being worked upon at the cost of the current factories, then it is incomprehensible for the industrialists. The factories need more gas and electricity to increase their production and for that, the government’s first priority should be to increase the supply of utilities.

He reiterated that it is imperative for the government to first provide interrupted supply of power to the operating export oriented industries that have the potential to enhance its exports to approximately $2 billion and create many job opportunities. “The target of creating thousands of new jobs in the textile sector will be achieved only when the factories get proper utilities with consistency,” Bilwani concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2014.

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