Federal Textile Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Cheema has said that textile exports would be doubled in the next four years from the current $7 billion. The government would increase textile share up to the maximum in overall export target of $20 billion, he said, while addressing a press conference here on Thursday. Pakistan is world's fourth largest cotton growing country and has comparative advantage in its production. This is the sector that has the potential to grease the wheel of economy.
Mushtaq Cheema said that during the last year textile accounted for 67 percent share in overall exports of the country. He also said that it has labour absorbing capacity and directly or indirectly supports economic and social growth of the country.
He said that in the wake of looming competition under the WTO regime textile sector is expected to expand further. Pakistan has the potential to compete in the world textile market.
The minister said that after implementation of WTO regime the non-tariff barriers would be eliminated and the tariff rate would be curtailed. Pakistan has to make its place in the atmosphere of open competition in the textile sector.
The economic pundits in Pakistan are of the opinion that to catch up with the developed countries and to win the war against poverty, the country has to use textile industry as a tool.
The minister also said that the ministry has been given the task of formulating textile industrial policy and to build co-ordination and liaison with the federal, provincial and local governments for promotion and facilitation of textile sector.
They have also been given the task of dialogues, negotiations except trade negotiations, co-operation with international donor agencies with regard to textile sector and textile quota management.
The Textile Ministry is also liable for setting up standards, monitoring and maintaining vigilance for strict compliance of the standards throughout production and to build linkage with cotton and textile producing countries.
He also said that the ministry has been given the task to collect textile-related statistics, surveys, commercial intelligence, analysis and dissemination of information and reports on international demand pattern and market access.
The ministry would also be responsible to provide skill training to the workers and would conduct research for enhancement of productivity and quality.
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