Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) have demanded special arrangements for the delayed export consignments from upcountry held up due to communication disruption, looting and arson and severe electricity and gas load-shedding incidents.
In an appeal to Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro here on Thursday Chairman PTEA Tahir Ishaque Bharara said that textile exports from Faisalabad were facing multiple difficulties due to prevailing turmoil and uncertain conditions in the country.
He said that no export consignment could be dispatched from Faisalabad over the last 12 days due to (a) Eid holidays, (b) Disruption of communication after slaying of Benazir Bhutto incident. (C) Lack of security on the route from Faisalabad to Karachi Port. (d) Arson and looting of cargo vehicles and cargo trains by miscreants. Resultantly many export orders have been defaulted.
He pointed out that foreign buyers are threatening to cancel export orders in hand as severe load-shedding and low gas pressure have disrupted the industrial production and manufacturing schedule of export orders. Further more the industry is suffering huge losses of productivity as well as exorbitant rise in cost of production.
Soliciting immediate intervention of the Prime Minister to facilitate the exporters and save the textile exports from total disaster, PTEA Chairman requested that (a) That arrangements for save and secured dispatch of export consignments to Karachi may kindly be ensured. (b) Appropriate load- shedding management of electricity and gas may be directed. (c) Last year the export- oriented units were specifically exempted from electricity and gas load-shedding in greater national interest. (d) Under similar circumstances in the aftermath of 9/11 incident special air lifting of defaulted consignments was made and freight subsidy was allowed.
He requested that freight subsidy may be allowed under the present circumstances for victims of defaulted consignments. (e) To cope with the continuous declining trend over last 2 years in exports to rationalise cost of manufacturing and give boost to exports mark-up rate may kindly be reduced.