KARACHI, July 10: Textile manufacturers-cum-exporters’ trade bodies have lashed out at Federal Textile Minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema for making highly irresponsible and baseless statement with regard to private sector’s efficiency.

In a joint statement issued to the media on Tuesday, around six textile apparel trade bodies under the umbrella of Pakistan Apparel Forum (PAF) said that once again the government had started blame game by putting the onus of inefficiency and decline in exports on the industry.These trade bodies said that they had failed to understand that the minister, who himself belongs to textile fraternity, was making such comments which had no relevancy with ground reality.

There was general perception that the government instead of realising the gravity of the situation was trying to brush the problem under the rug which would ultimately surface as a national disastrous in a shape of large-scale closures and massive job losses.

The minister on Monday at the inaugural ceremony of M. A. Lari Auditorium at Towel Manufacturers Association (TMA) had said that the textile industry should try to become cost-effective and competitive by controlling wastage of inputs at each stage of its production line.

However, the private sector squarely put the blame of inefficiency on the government which was not discharging its obligation towards providing proper infrastructure such as water, power, security, proper road network and other communication facilities.

They complained that most of these facilities were being set up by private sector in order to keep their industry’s wheels moving and satisfy foreign buyers’ quality, timely delivery and competitive price.

These leaders said that if a textile unit had to generate its own power to ensure sustained supply of electricity, look after water supply and set up its own treatment plan and raise its own security staff then what was left for the government to do.

In many cases we have to build our own approach roads and other infrastructure, these leaders added.

They alleged that there was complete breakdown of the entire government infrastructure with dilapidated and broken down road network in all industrial areas coupled with snarling traffic jams preventing heavy vehicles carrying goods meant for exports for timely shipment.

These leaders suggested that instead of blaming the industry for inefficiency the government should seriously ponder over their lack of responsibilities in providing proper infrastructure and level-playing field to the export-oriented industry.

Once these issues are tackled and taken up by the government towards discharging its responsibility and ensure hassle-free working condition for exporters they could concentrate on their marketing, product development and higher production.

The statement was signed by chairmen of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), Pakistan Readymade Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Prgmea), Pakistan Knitwear and Sweaters Exporters Association (Paksea), Pakistan Cotton Fashion Apparels Association, Towel Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (TMA), Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association (PBEA) and chief coordinator of the PHMA.