Lack of resources has forced the Textile Ministry to stop promulgation of 'Textile Development and Promotion Bill', it is learnt. "Textile Ministry is not only short of staff but is also facing financial crisis, and it is difficult for it to monitor so many issues at one time", sources said, adding that work on the new bill has been in limbo.
Reformed general sales tax (RGST), gas load management program, and yarns issue remained the focal points of the Ministry for the last six months and it spared little time for other issues, including full implementation of the textile policy. Sources told Business Recorder that details of the proposed Textile Bill have been discussed with Karachi and Faisalabad chambers of commerce, while these are yet to be discussed with Lahore and Multan chambers. After consideration of the stakeholders' proposals, the bill would be sent to the Cabinet.
Objective of the new bill is to monitor implementation of the textile policy (2009-14) and to ensure accurate statistics of production capacity, exports and total number of textile units in the country.
The proposed textile law would require all textile units functioning to register with Ministry of Textile Industry, as only registered textile units would get incentives announced in the Textile Policy. Sources said that a federal board of textile industries would be constituted under the new bill for regular interaction between the industry and the policy makers to ensure development and promotion of the textile industry.
The ministry lacks complete information about the textile units and their production data to make appropriate plans regarding implementation of new textile policy. The new legislation aims at implementing the new textile policy, strengthening the structure of textile industries and to maintain complete data on production of these units. At present, there is no textile export and import law in the country. In the proposed textile bill, rules would be laid down and growth and activity of the industry would be monitored, sources added.
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