KARACHI, March 6: The chairman, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Waqar Monnoo has termed the EU decision to levy 13.1 per cent anti-dumping duty on Pakistani bedlinen as politically-motivated and unjustified.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Aptma chief said that the EU move is aimed at forestalling Pakistan from availing tremendous growth opportunities under quota-free regime from January 1, 2005.

He further said that EU's concession of duty-free import of bedlinen under GSP scheme would also be withdrawn in case of Pakistan to coincide with the date for the abolition of textile quota.

Waqar Monnoo said that EU's decision of imposing punitive duty would cripple the bedlinen and allied textile industries. He said heavy investment made in the textile industry over the past three years to improve quality in quota free era would go waste causing great loss to the industry.

The Aptma chairman urged the government to evolve a joint strategy with private sector for safeguarding the interest of exporters concerned by taking up the matter urgently with WTO to counter EC's action.

He also suggested that all diplomatic and other appropriate channels should be used by the ministry of commerce for generating pressure on the Commission for withdrawing the anti- dumping duty.