The commercial exporters of fabrics and home textiles have resented their exclusion from enjoying the R&D benefits, announced in the textile policy.
M Rafiq Khan, Secretary General, Pakistan Cloth Merchants Association (PCMA) in a letter sent on July 22 to the prime minister, with copies to Commerce minister and textile minister has drawn their attention to the issue, describing it as, "life and death" matter for the commercial exporters.
They have been excluded from the purview of R&D facility, which has been granted only to processing houses/exporters. Patronising 25-50 commercial houses will badly hurt commercial exporters, who contribute about 80 to 90 percent in the exports of fabrics/home textiles.
"This decision is an open discrimination, which will reduce our exports considerably and make us un-competitive in the international market," he said. He has appealed to the prime minister that all the commercial exporters be treated equally by allowing R&D benefits to all, otherwise they would face a disastrous situation. In the larger interest of Pakistan's export, it is necessary that an SRO is issued immediately, rectifying the situation, he said.