Rift between spinners and the textile ministry is escalating with each passing day, as both sides are moving opposite direction on important issues. It may be noted that the spinners are openly commenting that they are disassociating them from the textile minister because of his "anti-spinning industry mindset".
Sources in the industry told Business Recorder that the federal textile minister was threatening the spinning industry leadership, besides restricting exports of cotton yarn from the country, which is, they said, a sheer violation of the free market mechanism.
They added that the federal minister was using harsh language in the meetings openly, disappointing the other side of the table. They added that the ministry was even warning of blocking the billions of rupee funds to the basic textile industry in case it went on strike against the imposition of quota on yarn export.
It is worth noting that President Asif Ali Zardari had made it clear loudly that the government was not in favour of denying the free market mechanism and there would be no downward revision of the quota imposed on exports of yarn. However, the textile ministry was even not bothering about these assurances it has revised the quota to 35,000 tones per month from earlier 50,000 tones. Resultantly, the spinners have announced countrywide closure of mills in case the textile minister failed to revise its "anti-industry policy".
Sources in Federal Textile Ministry say that the federal minister for textile is giving priority to his political goals on ministry objectives. They said the minister was openly making comments that he can not afford displeasure of his voters in Faisalabad, a hub of power looms and apparel sector in general besides the spinning industry. Further, they added, the minister was of the view that how the spinners could lose their businesses when they were travelling in BMWs, which again shows that the federal minister was carrying a common man's anti-profit-making approach.
The industry sources told Business Recorder that the textile minister was also pressing the Aptma leadership to withdraw its call for countrywide strike. This scribe tried to contact the Federal Textile Minister for his comments but he was not available on his phone.