Pakistan has secured the support of most European nations for obtaining zero rated GSP plus status for its textiles and negotiations with remaining three states, including France and Belgium were on to receive their favour. Textile Minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema said this while talking to newsmen at the inauguration of textile exhibition IGATEX for garment machinery at Karachi Expo Centre here on Monday.
He said that it would take some time, as it involves many modalities and a long consultation process among 25-member European Union. He hoped that Pakistan would soon get GSP Plus.
"Our fight is on at every level and we are trying to convince the EU that Pakistan has played a crucial role in combating terrorism and extremism at local and international level and we should be compensated by grating GSP Plus status," he described.
Cheema said that the GSP Plus should include a clause for supporting those countries, which fought war against terrorism and extremism. This would not only foster growth of Pakistani textile industry but also generate jobs for youth, he observed.
To a question about anti-dumping duties on Pakistan bedlinen, he said that efforts were made at all levels for lifting of this duty. He pointed out that the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan were also using their influence in this regard.
About the post quota regime, the minister said that garment export had witnessed a slight decrease in the last four months after the end of textile quota, but hoped that this trend would be corrected with the support of the government's measures.
He said that the government had announced a 6 percent rebate for the garment sector and this would help the industry to improve its share in the exports.
Earlier, speaking at the inauguration, he said that Pakistani textile industry had invested $4 billion to $5 billion in BMR. This would increase country's exports in the post quota regime.
"This is a welcome sign, yet just a starting step," he added.
The minister invited textile manufacturers to invest in textile and garment cities in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad and added that this was a lucrative investment opportunity.
He said that the government would provide all necessary facilities to the industrialists in all their initiatives for modernisation, quality assurance and diversification of products being made and exported from Pakistan.
Cheema lauded the organisers of IGATEX and said that it was providing a platform for buyers and sellers of quality machinery.
President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Khalid Firoz in his speech said that this exhibition would play an important role in improving the image of Karachi in the world.
He said that the KCCI was holding "My Karachi" exhibition in June and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would participate in this event as special countries.
The organiser and chief of Pegasus Consultancy, Aasim Siddiqui in his welcome address highlighted the importance of the show and said that leading manufacturers of garment machinery were displaying their products at the show.