LAHORE: The Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) on Thursday urged the government to help restore competitiveness of the textile industry.
The association stressed the need for creating a friendlier environment as the country’s textile industry has lost its viability against regional competitors.
“The major factor behind the declining trend is the erosion of textile industry’s competitiveness, particularly against the huge incentives being provided by competing countries to their export sectors,” said PTEA chairman Sohail Pasha.
Comparing the results of Pakistan’s 2009-14 textile policy with India’s five year plan for 2007-12 , Pasha said the implementation of Pakistan’s first ever textile policy with an outlay of Rs188 billion achieved negligible growth in textile exports, an addition of 1 million spindles, no new jobs and dropping world market share from 2.2 per cent to 1.8pc.
On the other hand, India’s five-year plan for 2007-12 with outlay of Rs140bn led to a 76pc increase in exports, an addition of 14m spindles, creation of 16m direct jobs and an increase in its global market share.
PTEA’s group leader Ahmad Kamal was of the view that Pakistan’s textile exports were too close to Indian textile exports few years back but with 5pc industrial growth rate, their annual textile exports had crossed $33 billion.
“Conducive and well-implemented policies have meant that competing economies like India have far surpassed Pakistan in terms of capacity and output in the textile sector.”
Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2015
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