November 29, 2001	Thursday	Ramazan 13, 1422

MULTAN, Nov 28: All Pakistan Bedsheets and Hosiery Manufacturers Association has urged the government to utilize the foreign aid for the promotion of trade and export.

Addressing a press conference, association’s chairman Syed Mohammad Asim said it was an opportunity for Pakistan to strengthen its economic foundations with the support being extended by the US and its allies in the wake of Pakistan’s role in ‘war on terrorism’.

He said though the western countries were providing aid to combat the Afghan crisis, but these meagre amounts of aid were not sufficient to boost the country’s trade.

Similarly, he added, the incentives announced for the textile sector were not being implemented fully. “The millers have time and again invited government’s attention towards this issue but to no avail,” he said.

He demanded of the government to simplify the sales tax system, besides quick disposal of refund cases.

America has clamped embargo on quota categories 361, 360 (S&P) and 666 and has stopped the consignments. The issue should be raised with the US customs department to resolve it, he said, adding the war risk surcharge on goods transport ships should be withdrawn.

Mr Asim urged the government to send delegates of exporters abroad to restore confidence of foreign buyers and added import duty be got abolished from America and its allies along with sanction of other privileges.