Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that creation of the new Textile Industry Ministry is an initiative of the government to gear up textile sector and to facilitate enhanced production of good quality cotton. He said that textile industry constitutes 60 percent of industrial base and export. "It is the largest employer and thus demands a focused and proactive approach for its promotion." With the end of quota regime in January 2005, Pakistan is poised to leverage this potential opportunity, he remarked.
"Pakistan has natural and comparative advantage as we produce excellent textile products," he said, adding, "our location is such that we can access markets with relative ease."
He added: "By organising the textile ministry on modern lines with dedicated, focused and proactive approach, Pakistan can boost exports in textile sector."
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz directed the Federal Minister for Textile Industry Mushtaq Ali Cheema, who called on him at the Prime Minister House here on Saturday, to make the ministry a model to cater to the private sector demands.
He said a focused approach by the ministry would allow better co-ordination with other concerned ministries, departments, weavers, and spinners in textile industry. He said textile industry has also an important relation with agriculture sector, as two are inter-linked.
The premier said: "Agriculture sector is a feed stock of textile and the policy of the government is to increase production of good quality cotton free of contamination so that the grower could also get the best return of his crop."
The minister for textile industry thanked the prime minister for reposing confidence in him and assured him that he would make the new initiative a success and facilitate the textile sector and the cotton grower to boost export and cotton production.
He said there was a great potential for textile export and the new ministry would adopt a proactive approach in locating new markets and opportunities for export.