February 12, 2006	Sunday	Muharram 13, 1427

LAHORE, Feb 11: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA) on Saturday decided to undertake a joint study of challenges confronting the textile industry in the post-quota era and evolve a strategy to overcome them.

This was decided in a meeting between APTMA-Punjab chairman Shafqat Elahi and PHMA chairman Shehzad Azam.

PHMA’s Shahid Nazir presented a comparative study of the knitwear industry in Pakistan, India and China, and highlighted the role of incentives and subsidies being given by the two countries. These subsidies are causing harm to the Pakistani industry.

Both APTMA and PHMA called upon the government to provide a level-playing field to the country’s textile industry by matching interest rates, investment allowances and duty drawbacks enjoyed by the Indian, Chinese and Bangladeshi industry.

“We feel that Pakistan’s industry has to go through a consolidation phase and certain structural changes are required,” they said. “But we need some immediate relief to remain afloat while we make these changes,” they added.

APTMA and PHMA set up a joint committee for a follow up on the issues, including engaging consultants to make presentation to the government.

Meanwhile, APTMA has formed a media committee headed by its senior member Akber Sheikh to create awareness about the issues among its members, the media and policy making agencies.