LAHORE, July 2: Ejaz A Khokhar, former chairman of Pakistan Readymade Garment Exporters Association, has appealed to the prime minister to constitute a high-powered task force to consider extension of research and development support to small garments manufacturing units by extending research and development support.

In a statement, Ejaz Khokhar said that garment units, having an export of $3,832, out of total $16.976 billion exports, and employing almost 40 per cent manpower of manufacturing sector, was threatened with closure due to increase in cost of production on account of around 30 per cent increase in oil, gas and electricity rates and wages at a time when they were negotiating Christmas orders with foreign buyers and expected orders worth $2.5 million.