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FAISALABAD, Nov 28: Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) has apprehended that 12 per cent increase in cargo fare by shipping lines will not only make exports costlier but also render them uncompetitive in western markets. Talking to the press here on Monday, PTEA Chairman Rana Arif Tauseef said textile products were already under stress because of the continuous increase in production cost and other internal and external factors.
He said rise in power tariff and POL prices had made exports uncompetitive in international market.
Mr Tauseef said the recent increase in freight charges at this crucial stage was very alarming and would further erode the profitability of textile exports.
Quoting statistics, he said Pakistan exported 328 million square meters of cloth during June. In July, the export came down to 302 and further deceased to 273 million square meters in August. He said the decreasing trend continued in September (264 million square meters).
He urged the government to take measures to decrease production cost and withdraw the recent increase in freight charges.
VOLUNTEERS: A team of volunteers from Government College University, Faisalabad, is doing relief work at Shinkiari while another five teams will leave from Governor’s House, Lahore for quake-hit areas of AJK and the NWFP soon.
Addressing a workshop for volunteers here on Monday, vice-chancellor Dr. Asif Iqbal Khan appreciated the national spirit among students in the wake of the earthquake.
He said a team of 60 volunteers — 30 male and as many female students — from the psychology department was already participating in relief and rehabilitation work at Shinkiari.
Five teams, comprising law students, would proceed to the Governor’s House and later leave Lahore for AJK and the NWFP areas.
