August 28, 2007	Tuesday	Sha’aban 14, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 27: Export of grey fabric from Pakistan fell by 34.7pc in June as over 2.5 million spindles have closed, said the All-Pakistan Textile Association (Apta) on Monday.

An Apta statement said it has been crying hoarse for the last few months that the problems of textile industry, in general, and spinning mills, in particular, are getting worse.

“Despite appeals at the top levels of the government, there has been no move to even review the matter,” it said.

It said now exports have started declining, and last year’s export target of $18.5 billion could not be achieved and the country had to be content with total export of $17.011 billion.

The export figures for June 2007 are even more disturbing as textiles export in June 2007 went down by three per cent compared to June 2006.

The quantity of cotton fabrics went down 34.7pc which means that one-third of the entire weaving industry has either closed or is stocking its fabric.

Cotton yarn exports are down 5.4pc, bedwear 19pc and towels 17.6pc.

All this was despite huge increase in main raw material i.e. cotton costs. July’s provisional export figures show a month on month decline of 8.2pc.

It said close to 2.5 million spindles have stopped operation rendering over 160 textile spinning units closed.

“The number of weaving looms that have closed is uncertain as most are in the unorganised sector. It is high time that the government realises that something is drastically wrong.”

When we cried that 600,000 spindles had closed, no one believed, and when we said 1.5 million spindles have closed, nobody believed. And now when we are crying that close to 2.5 spindles have already closed and more are on the way; will someone listen?”