KARACHI, Sept 30: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has urged the government to ensure level playing field in all raw materials, including polyester staple fibre by adopting free import and export policy.

The association has pointed out that the government has given 20 per cent protection by way of import duty on polyester staple fibre (PSF), but on the other hand, it has allowed a duty draw back on export of Pakistani PSF. Furthermore, PSF has been excluded from Duty and Tax Remission Rules for Exports (DTRE).

A spokesman of the Aptma said that member mills are deeply distressed as a vital raw material of the spinning, weaving and downstream textile industries is being allowed to be manipulated at will by a handful of fibre manufacturers.

He said the vision of present government to enlarge exports of the country is being wilfully thwarted for the benefit of five polyester manufacturers.