KARACHI, Sept 1: Minister of State and Chairman Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Tariq Ikram has supported the textile and garment industry demand for ensuring a level-playing field against their competitors in the world market.

He stressed upon the need for the government support to the industry for a period of next 12 to 24 months to ensure the sustainability of the GDP growth. He said that the Planning Commission was working on a strategy to boost exports.

The support, however, should not come in a traditional form of subsidy but in a way to enable the textile industry to face the ongoing price war amongst the regional competitors.

He said that without maintaining growth in export of textiles and garments the country could not maintain the growth momentum or achieve export target of $18.6 billion for current fiscal.

These views were expressed by the chairman EPB while talking to Dawn in his office on Friday. He said in the post-quota era there was emphasis on quality, timely delivery and competitive price.

However, lately a new trend has been witnessed where the manufacturing base of textile industry has started to shift to new locations and countries.

Tariq Ikram said that it was not only the relocation of textile industry that was gaining pace but new players in textiles and clothing such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Jordan and Eastern Europe are also emerging.Along with this trend, he said, the countries particularly those, whose economies are entirely based on textiles fearing loss of industry and exports are increasingly giving incentives and subsidies.

Consequently, he said Pakistan will have to safeguard its interest by adopting such measures at national level, which could ensure viability of its industry.

The EPB chief said that there was a need to change the mindset of economic planners, who are reluctant to extend support to the textile sector.

The Planning Commission, he said, is working on a development strategy with an objective to register a quantum leap in exports of the country. Under this plan, he said a committee had been set up to look into textile and garment industry issues and also find their solution.

However, he said that an intensive micro level study had been initiated. Mr Ikram said that units that were closed down during last two years will be visited to find out reasons and factors for their closure.