ISLAMABAD, June 9: The British High Commissioner, Mr Mark Layoll on Thursday said that the United Kingdom would extend every possible support in resolving the issue of anti-dumping duty on import of bedlinen from Pakistan.

This was stated by him in a meeting with Federal Textile Minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema.

An official announcement said the British High Commissioner had given an assurance to the minister that UK would support Pakistan’s view point on the anti-dumping issue.

“We will help Pakistan to resolve this issue as we are big importer of Pakistan’s home textile and we have good trade relations since long,” he added.

Mr Layoll said the present budget was textile budget and incentives were appreciable.

Textile Industry Minister, Mushtaq Ali Cheema, termed the duty unfair as, he said, it was less on Indian and Bangladesh textile products as compared to Pakistan.

He demanded equal treatment to all countries of the region. He said abolition of sales tax and other incentives granted in current budget would provide more energy to textile industries and in future, which would increase export. “We are surplus in textile,” he added.

He said at present Pakistan was exporting cotton, yarn and various textile products but “we are working on value-addition, as we are manufacturers of good quality ready-made garments and home textile products.”