This was stated by the former chairman of All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPAMA) Abdul Shakoor Khatri and present chairman of Chemicals Manufacturers Association of Pakistan here on Thursday.

"Pakistan can take full advantage of global cotton shortage and must make the best use of its world known spinning sector that has capability and potential to make the country as leader in spinning yarn production in the world", he noted.

He was of the view that Pakistan must focus on high value adding textile products instead of exporting cotton and yarn.

Khatri said that textile industry especially the processing mills were facing serious problems which need to be immediately addressed in the great national interest.

The processing mills required urgent modernisation including installation of modern looms and air-jet looms in weaving sector.

He urged the government to withdraw duties on finishing chemicals which are imported from USA, Europe and Japan. Similarly, another raw material named textile thickeners being imported from India be placed on the free import list in bilateral trade and be made duty-free.

A big amount of foreign exchange can be saved by producing synthetic thickeners at our local level.

Khatri also called for provision of soft loans to local manufacturers of chemicals by State Bank of Pakistan to promote this important sector of the economy for import substitute.

He also underlined the need for transfer of technology on know-how basis to make the country capable to cope with new economic challenges and increasing competition and other challenges in International market.

Khatri appreciated the government steps and policies to support growers for cotton crop in the country and emphasised on proper education to growers and providing them quality pesticides at low rates to increase crops yield especially of the cotton and new variety of BT Cotton.