KARACHI, Jan 16: Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin acknowledged the issues and problems of textile industry conveyed to him on Friday by a three-member delegation of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) and he verbally promised that “the government will take positive steps, not in weeks but in days”.

A press release of the association stated that Aptma Chairman Tariq Mehmood met Mr Tarin and Textile Minister Rana Farooq and apprised them of serious problems being faced by the industry caused by disruption in energy supply with ever rising tariffs, spiralling inflation, banking issues, lack of incentives etc.

Javed Bilwani, the acting president of Karachi Chamber and Commerce and Industry (KCCI), in a detailed petition to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Reza Gilani has informed that garment and home textiles exporters have not been paid their research and development subsidy claims of about Rs10 billion by the State Bank of Pakistan for the last more than six months.

The value-added textile sector, he said, is now suffering “the severest financial crunch and a grave liquidity” problem. Mr Bilwani urged government intervention at the highest level to redress grievances of apparel and home textile sectors.