KARACHI: Federal Secretary for Textile Ministry Amir M. Khan Marwat informed that a Textile City will be set up in Karachi like Faisalabad.

Addressing members of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), he said the federal government has paid Rs300 million to Sindh government to buy land for the project. About Rs6 billion, he said, will be spent on the industry annually over the next five years on account of drawback of local taxes, long-term financing facility and rewards based on performance.

He said that Rs20bn refund claims are pending but the ministry has decided to conduct a survey to sift real from fake claimants.

Naqi Bari of FPCCI drew the attention of the secretary towards the fact that the textile industry was still paying sales tax on packing material and urged to issue the SRO soon.

Senior Vice President FPCCI Sheikh Khalid Tawab pointed out that India has set aside Rs60bn for the development of its textile apparel industry.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2016