Textile exporters oppose merger of Textile and commerce Ministries

FAISALABAD: Textile exporters have strongly opposed the proposed merger of textile ministry into commerce ministry terming it a negative move which would hurt the pace of growth in textile exports and would push textile industry on back gear. These apprehensions were expressed by the chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association Asghar Ali and vice chairman Muhammad Asif here Tuesday.

In a statement, PTEA leaders expressed grave concerns over the proposed merger of textile ministry into commerce ministry and said that Pakistan has dynamic, vigorous and export oriented textile industry that has an overwhelming impact on national economy. Textile being largest industrial sector generates the country’s highest export earnings of about 60%, providing the bulk of employment to 40% workforce and contributes 8.5% to GDP.

Ministry of textile industry was established on the demands of textile exporters to formulate strategies and programs to facilitate the textile sector for attaining sustainable growth, to achieve higher objectives and to anticipate the challenges confronting by the textile sector, they said. With the establishment of full fledged textile ministry, the country’s textile exports gradually increased from USD 8.29 billion in 2004-05 to USD 13.78 billion. Textile Ministry is greatly contributing in textile development by implementing and finalizing various initiatives like acquiring professional management skill, technological up-gradation, human resource development, innovations in diverse products, maintaining standards, ensuring quality to bridge the country’s yawning trade gap.

Asghar Ali was of the view that the current scenario has dramatically changed the global trade patterns and increased the competition; nonetheless there is a new focus required for textile industry to increase their successive rate. Successful operation of an independent textile ministry would help to boost textile exports and the country would be able to earn more precious forex to stable its sagging economy, he hoped. He demanded the new upcoming Government not to abolish or merge such an important textile ministry and keep its independent identity.