The apparel textile sector has raised concerns over the proposed merger of textile ministry with commerce ministry, saying the move is "alarming" for the ailing industry. Last week, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMEA) Central Chairman Javed Bilwani highlighted the industry's concerns in a letter to PML-N chief and prime minister in waiting Nawaz Sharif.
In his letter, citing information about merger of the two key ministries, Bilwani termed the proposed merger "alarming". He said that the textile ministry was established on the demand of value-added textile sector, which helped the country's textile exports flourish.
"If textile ministry is run successfully the country's export can grow up to $50 billion," the letter said emphasising that retaining of the ministry would reduce commerce ministry's burden and help the latter pay full attention to other export-oriented sectors.
Giving example of India, Bilwani said the country had a full-fledged ministry of textile which looked after cotton, jute, sericulture industry, wool and woollen sector, manmade fibre/filament yarn, technical textiles, clothing and textile exports, education (textiles/fashion), research and development. "Indian textile exports account for only 8.92 percent of the country's total exports but it has maintained the ministry whereas Pakistan with 53.27 percent of textile exports is considering merging the key ministry," the letter said.
Similarly, Bilwani said, Pakistan's key competitor, Bangladesh, had also a textile ministry to manage its exports. He further said that apparel textile sector was the backbone and lifeline of the country's economy with about 50 percent of total exports and generating 42 percent of the total employment. He asked the next premier to reconsider the decision of merging the two ministries.
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