KARACHI, Feb 8: The government is going to set up a garment export board with a view to increasing the export of value-added textiles to $4 billion in four years.

The board, to be headed by the commerce minister, will also include secretary commerce, CBR and EPB chairmen and representatives of concerned value-added exporters associations.

The proposal for setting up garment export board (GEB) was floated by chairman, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Prgmea), Masood Naqi, and also came under discussion with Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood at Interjeans fair held in Germany recently.

On his return from Germany Prgmea chief has submitted a set of proposals to the commerce minister, aimed at doubling the present value-added export of $2 billion.

Another point accepted by the minister was about collection of provincial levies by a number of agencies. It has been agreed that the garment exporters will now pay 0.01 per cent levy in lump sum instead of 0.07 per cent collected earlier.

Prgmea chief also suggested lowering the finance rate to 3 per cent and allowing duty-free import of accessories up to 5 per cent of the value of exports made by an individual in the past year.