KARACHI: Commerce Adviser Abdul Razak Dawood on Tuesday assured value-added textile sector stakeholders of raising their problems with Prime Minister Imran Khan and the federal cabinet.

In an online meeting with representatives of textile and value-added sectors, the adviser said the government would consider and resolve some of the issues that were highlighted during the meeting.

The associations representing textile industry urged Mr Dawood to abolish all duties and taxes through a presidential ordinance and allow duty-free import of cotton yarn which is a basic raw material of the value-added textile sector

The online meeting was attended by Chairman of the Council of All Pakistan Textile Associations Zubair Motiwala, Chairman of the Pakistan Apparel Forum Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, Central Chairman of the Pakistan Hosiery and Manufacturers Exporters Association (PHMA) Riaz Ahmed, PHMA Chairman (South Zone) Tariq Munir, Senior Vice Chairman of the PHMA (North Zone) Farukh Iqbal) as well as businessmen Ijaz Khokhar, Haroon Shamsi and Zia Alamdar.

The participants called upon the government to place a ban on export of cotton yarn of 30 single or below count till June 2021 in order to ensure availability of quality yarn to the export sector so that orders can be completed without hassle and unrest. They said the government should consider allowing import of cotton yarn from India via the Wagah border as quality yarn is not available and prices are soaring.

Likewise, anti-dumping duties on goods imported meant for re-export by export-oriented units and manufacturing bond should also be abolished, they said. The industry representatives further sought freeze in the special tariffs of 7.5 cents for electricity and $6.5 for gas for at least next three years and provision of uninterrupted electricity and gas for meeting export orders, the industry representatives said.

The value-added textile sector said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s plans for industrialisation, increasing exports, creating trade surplus, generation of employment opportunities and earning precious foreign exchange can only become possible only when cotton yarn and uninterrupted supply of utilities is ensured on special ­tariffs.

The associations also expressed severe concern on the recent announcement of the federal government regarding discontinuation of gas to industrial captive power plants (CCPs).

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2021