ISLAMABAD: Businessmen Group of APTMA led by Dr Gohar Ejaz, Patron-in-Chief, swept Annual Elections of 2021-22 unopposed for the 13th consecutive year. Rahim Nasir (Ayesha Spinning Mills) has been nominated as Chairman designate.

When Dr Ejaz first started managing APTMA affairs, textile exports were stagnant at $10 billion owing to energy shortage, which was successfully negotiated and then later energy prices, which were much higher than competing countries. These were rationalized with the commitment of the PTI government as regionally competitive energy tariffs through the efforts of Dr Ejaz. This has led to increase of $3 billion in textile exports during FY2021 while substantial textile related new investments of $4 billion have also been made. In the same period, other competing countries have shown significant decline in exports. The growth in exports has been phenomenal. Exports grew by 22 percent last year and 17 percent in July'21 as Dr Ejaz's relentless efforts to reach textile exports of $21 billion by June'22.

Dr Ejaz has now been tasked to revive the cotton crop in Pakistan. APTMA Cotton Foundation - a flagship project is working towards revival of the cotton crop through multiple innovative initiatives.

APTMA is of the view that sustainable export-led economic growth is imperative for development of competitive and private sector to create jobs for a young and rapidly growing labour force and for Pakistan to attain upper-middle income status by its centenary. In the face of fiscal constraints and Covid-19 pandemic, the upward momentum in exports is a beacon of hope for a better and sustainable economic future.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021