January 25, 2007	Thursday	Muharram 05, 1428

LAHORE, Jan 24: A ministerial committee is being constituted to find out ways for the resolution of problems presently confronting country's textile sector.

"The body, being formed in line with the recommendations of National Textile Strategy Committee, will have representation from different ministries," Federal Textile Industry Minister, Chaudhary Mushtaq Ali Cheema told newsmen at the inaugural ceremony of 'Texstyle Pakistan Exhibition' at the Fortress Stadium Expo Centre here on Wednesday.

Federal Secretary Textile Industry Masood Alam Rizvi, Chairman, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Ijaz Khokhar and Chief Organiser of the exhibition, Ahmad Masood, were also present.

Mushtaq Ali Cheema expressed the hope that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will constitute the ministerial committee after his current visit to Switzerland and Belgium.

About country's first ever textile policy, he said that the consultants of a Swiss textile consultancy firm had finalised the draft of the policy after carrying out a detailed study of the sector.

"The draft is presently being fine-tuned," Cheema said.

Responding to a question about All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association's demand for import of cotton from India via Wagah border, he said that the government would have to keep in view the interests of the farming community while taking a decision in this regard.

He expressed the hope that a bail-out package for the textile sector would be on the ground before the next federal budget.

Meanwhile, the minister while inaugurating the exhibition said that the present government was taking all the necessary steps for the promotion of textile sector which formed a big chunk of national exports, besides creating a number of job opportunities.’

He hoped that the exhibition would provide an opportunity to the Pakistani textile industry to have first-hand knowledge in the advancements in the field of textile machinery and other accessories.—APP