06 March 2005	Sunday	24 Muharram 1426

KARACHI, March 5: A delegation of the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Prgmea) on Friday met Textile Minister Mushtaq Cheema and apprised him of the problems confronting the value-added textile industry.

The Prgmea delegation, led by its chairman Dawood Usman Jakhura, also briefed the minister about the importance of setting up of the garment city and felt that a well-planned industrial estate would ensure quality, quantity and prompt delivery of goods.

The delegation members said that all these factors would help the industry as well as exporters face the challenges of the free market era. They asked the minister to ensure uninterrupted supply of utilities like gas, power and water and free movement of manpower, which could only be possible if the law and order remained under control and security problem was resolved for such industrial clusters.

The minister was also informed about the problems being faced by exporters and manufacturers such as increase in export refinance rates and issues of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), social compliance and labour laws.

"The constant increase in petrol prices are adding to woes of our exporters who have to meet their commitments made much head of delivery time and normal seasonal booking, which is minimum six months in advance," they complained.

The minister assured the delegation of resolving all the issues and putting up them before the authorities concerned.