Reacting to a news item regarding approval of special package for textile sector by ECC, M. Naqi Bari, Chairman, Pakistan Apparel Forum said that ECC has ignored apparel industry, which is the major foreign exchange earning sector of textile while approving the special package for textile.
He said that Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Finance had assured the representatives of Pakistan Apparel Forum in a meeting held on July 29, 2008 that government would continue to provide R&D support upto June 30, 2009 for the apparel sector.
The apparel exporters had started booking their future orders on this assurance moreover, the exporters were also assured that their claims for shipments upto June 30, 2008, which were stopped by State Bank of Pakistan, would also be entertained in accordance with the SRO.
He stated that ECC has neither addressed the burning issue of continuation of R&D support nor has advised State Bank of Pakistan to entertain the claims for shipments made upto June 30, 2008. The delay in addressing such issues by the government has created uncertainty among the apparel exporters and they are worried about fulfilment of their international commitments.-PR