FAISALABAD: Textile exporters have expressed concerns that the GSP+ scheme will remain fruitless unless the energy crisis and other impediments are resolved at the earliest.

These fears where shared by textile exporters during a meeting with Minister for Textile Industry, Abbas Khan Afridi on Tuesday.

Addressing the gathering, Exporters Association Chairman, Sohail Pasha briefed the meeting about the uncertain position of Punjab based textile units due to energy shortage.

He hoped the duty waiver facility would lead to an increase in textile exports to EU and generate significant economic activity in the country.

He termed the draft of new textile policy as progressive but expressed his concern over the delay in the approval of policy.

He urged the minister to ensure availability of adequate funds for desired results of upcoming textile policy.

Addressing exporters, the minister said the government has ensured gas supply to textile sector to help bolster exports.

The minister stressed the need for formulating a comprehensive and long-term policy to fully exploit the potential of all related sectors of ‘white gold’ the country has in huge quantity.

He assured the textile ministry would keep struggling for payment of pending refund claims of textile exporters to ease their financial burdens.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2014