APTMA urges govt to save textile economy

LAHORE, Sep 30 (APP): All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) in its 67th Annual General Meeting has demanded the government to save textile industry and upsurge exports by ensuring regionally competitive business environment.

The meeting was attended by leading textile manufacturers and exporters including Dr. Gohar Ejaz, Patron in Chief APTMA, S. M. Tanveer, Patron in Chief United Business Group (UBG), Kamran Arshad, outgoing Chairman, Asad Shafi, newly elected Chairman, former Chairmen, Ahsan Bashir, Abdul Rahim Nasir, Adil Bashir, Syed Ali Ahsan, Asif Inam and Raza Baqir, Secretary General. At the meeting Raza Baqir, Secretary General official announced results of elections both at Center and Zonal bodies.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gohar Ejaz congratulated newly elected office-bearers and members of the Center and Zonal Managing Committees. He said that it was an unprecedented 17th year of consecutive victory in the elections of APTMA both at Center and Zonal levels. He said that it was great honour to be elected in the largest trade body of the country established since 1957. He added that APTMA and textile industry had always strived for Pakistan and its economic autonomy.

Gohar hoped that newly-elected leadership would work hard to strengthen the export potential of the textile industry. He said, textile exports of the country were stagnant owing to multiple issues especially energy tariff, abnormally high taxation and rising cost of doing business. He mentioned that consequent to hectic efforts made by his Group, Regionally Competitive Energy Tariff was approved by the government for export oriented sectors both for electricity and gas but it was withdrawn abruptly severely affecting exports. He said that due attention was not being paid to the textile industry which was providing employment to about ten million people and contributing more than 60 percent of total exports.

Gohar said that textile industry was equipped to add more than USD 10 Billion in one year’s time if conducive business environment was provided to textile industry.

With the view to foster exports and boost up economy of the country, he unveiled his vision for future economy and announced launching of initiative for value added exports. He said that in line with the said vision, Center Chairman had worked from fibre to fashion. Similarly, Chairman North Zone was from garment sector and was one of the largest exporters of value added textiles.

S. M. Tanveer highly appreciated the role of APTMA in the economy of the country and highlighted contributions made by APTMA in controlling pest attack on cotton crop. He urged the government to facilitate trade and industry being 60 percent partner in the profits of businesses. He expressed the confidence that through facilitative mode local industry could impressively contribute for uplifting exports.

Outgoing Chairman Kamran Arshad thanked Dr. Gohar Ejaz for all his support, vision and guidance to put textile sector on right track. He also thanked all APTMA members for their continued support during his chairmanship.

Kamran Arshad said that Pakistan’s Textile and Apparel industry had enormous potential but the potential could not be fully realized unless cost of doing business became globally competitive. He stressed for making energy at competitive rates. He said that taxation must encourage investment and exports rather than penalizing and humiliating exporters. Government must provide stability and predictability required for business to make long term investment decisions. He added imports should be facilitated while protecting domestic value chain from massive dumping of imports critically causing severe injury to local industry.

Asad Shafi, newly elected Chairman said Pakistan’s GDP had fallen to USD 450 billion, and that agricultural and industrial output had declined to the low level. He said the country’s population was rising fast, with 6 to 7 million births annually, while exports remained stuck below USD 30 billion, forcing the younger generation to leave the country.

The Chairman APTMA said that Pakistan had fallen behind in global competitiveness due to declining cotton production and stagnant exports noting that electricity cost more than cent 11/kWh cent in Pakistan against cent 6/kWh in neighboring countries.

Naveed Ahmed, Senior Vice Chairman Kh. Muhammad Anees, Vice Chairman, Ahmad Sahfi, Vice Chairman ((Value Added), Muhammad Siddique Bhatti, Chairman North Zone and Faizan Irfan, Chairman South Zone also spoke on the occasion and stressed upon the need for upsurging textile exports to USD 50 billion. They urged APTMA members to diversify their businesses and venture in value added segments to earn more foreign exchange for the country and to provide more employment opportunities especially to female workforce.