"Pakistan's share in world textile trade of US 1.8 trillion dollars is only one percent despite of the fact that it is the fourth largest cotton producing country in the world and we have to make all-out efforts to increase our share to a reasonable level which should be proportionate to our potential." President of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Engr Rizwan Ashraf stated this while talking to Dr Arshad Ali, new Rector of the National Textile University (NTU) and other ffaculty members who visited FCCI hereon Wednesday.
He said that Federal Minister for Planning Professor Ahsan Iqbal has fixed target of enhancing textile exports within 5 years to US 25 billion dollars from existing exports of US 13 billion dollars and then to US 150 billion dollars by 2025. He said that these targets will be achieved if core issues of textile sector are resolved in addition to creating a business friendly environment in the country. In this connection, President FCCI also stressed a close liaison between government, academia and industry to suggest plans to achieve these targets.
Phenomenal growth is imperative for the survival of textile industry and Engr Rizwan Ashraf warned that we could not achieve these targets and our survival will also be at stake if we fail to maintain minimum growth rate. He said that government has its own priorities but industry and NTU must sit together and deliberate on survival of this sector which is actually the backbone of the national economy. He said that growth in textile sector can not only help us to give a quantum jump to our exports but also provide jobs to millions of youth. He also extended unconditional co-operation on behalf of FCCI with NTU in this regard.
Rector NTU Dr Arshad Ali underlined the importance of Vision 2025 and told that he has written a letter to Professor Ahsan Iqbal to improve existing infrastructure in addition to infusing a new spirit with a positive change in our mindset. E said it is imperative to achieve the set targets for the textile sector. Instead of depending on government we must collaborate to resolve our issues, he added.