SIALKOT: The International Apparel Federation (IAF) regional president and Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) chief coordinator Ijaz A Khokhar has underscored the need of establishing central, provincial and regional task forces to determine the issues confronted by the industry.
Talking to Business Recorder on Sunday, he added that formation of sector wise task forces would suggest the ways and means for resolving issues of the industry for its viability and competitiveness in international market. Ijaz said in order to achieve milestone to enhance export, the government should take initiatives to facilitate the export sector and revise its policies which were hindering the promotion of exports he said.
He said Pakistan could grab bigger share in the global market of value-added textile adding that without the due support of the government exporters were unable to grab the share of global market. The business community engaged with textile sector was making strenuous efforts for increasing the exports of the country despite heavy odds he said.
He suggested that government should exempt cotton yarn, dyes, chemicals from all types of taxes and duties for encouraging this value-added sector and apparel industry should be allowed to import fabric as the weaving industry was unable to fulfill growing demand of fashion wear.
Ijaz further told that currently garment sector having a limited product line for export market due to non-availability of the latest fabric at local level adding that foreign buyers demanding new garment based on G3, G4 and technical fabric material and under the circumstance there was a great need of product diversified to compete in international market.
For this purpose government should provide special funds for initiating research and development for each industrial sector to ensure product diversification and currently we need to offer more diversified producers, he added.
PRGMEA chief coordination reiterated that government should consider on the restoration of zero rated regime for five major export-oriented industries (sports, surgical, leather, carpet and textile) on the priority basis for the survival of exports of the country.
He was of the opinion that there was dire need of setting up of support industry to facilitate the industrial sector of the country. The establishment of support industry would an addition in the industry sector of the country he said.
He said that business community would be able to obtain all kind of raw material under one roof adding that export sector of the country heavily relies on import of raw materials especially China for further value-addition and exports and this practice adds to cost of doing business and is major contributor towards increasing import bill of Pakistan. Under the present circumstances there was a great nee of setting up of support industry which would reduce the imports to serve as a source of raw material for the export industry of Sialkot he added.
We suggest that government should formulate a plan by taking all stakeholders on board for protecting export sector of the country which is under certain threats he said.
He said that there was a great need of formulating long term and short term plans to cope with the current situation adding that government should focus on formulating sector wise and regional polices for boosting the exports of the country.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020