June 08, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 03, 1429

ISLAMABAD, June 7: A delegation of the Fabric Manufacturers and Exporters Association called on Federal Minister for Textile Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar here and apprised him of the declining export orders due to high manufacturing cost.

The delegation requested the government to continue three per cent Research and Development support given on fabric export, enabling the industry to develop.

Acting Chairman of Pakistan Fabric Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PFMEA) Ishtiaq Baig in his letter to the minister for textile explained that Pakistan had become hub of denim fabric during a short period as one of the leading exporters of reliable and quality denim fabric to the world renowned companies.

As per a recent Werner International Bench Mark report on Pakistan’s denim sector, the denim industry is classified having most modern technology and state-of-the-art plant and machinery.

Exports of denim fabric have reached up to $750 million mark and producing more than 300 million metres denim fabric annually, catering to the 100 per cent needs of the local value-added apparel industry.

Due to increasing cost of production in the recent past, the industry is striving hard to survive and government’s research and development support has helped denim sector to sustain growth and exports.—APP