Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Gohar Ejaz has congratulated textile industry, government policymakers and President Asif Ali Zardari on record performance of textile industry, touching $ 14 billion exports during 2010-11.
He said the country's exports have reached to $ 13.8 billion first time in the history of Pakistan, registering stellar growth of 35 percent against the corresponding period. The textile categories like cotton yarn, cotton cloth, knitwear and bed wear have entered $ 2 billion club, followed by the readymade garments likely to enter the club soon with strong potential to grow. Pakistan textile industry is becoming the ultimate choice for the international buyers, he said, adding that the international textile market also deserves kudos from Pakistan textile industry for projecting its positive image across the globe.
Gohar said the remarkable performance by the textile industry has fulfilled Aptma's dream of achieving $ 14 billion exports during the outgoing fiscal. Availability of the free market mechanism and priority to the textile industry for energy supply by the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has played major role in Aptma's dream come true, he added. He said the textile industry witnessed many tough moments during the outgoing fiscal but a timely support from the President of Pakistan put it back on track every time, resulting into fantastic performance at the end of the year. He said the textile industry envisages $ 20 billion export target during 2011-12, the current fiscal year, with further encouragement by the President Asif Ali Zardari, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, Minister of Textile Makhdoom Shahab-ud-Din, Minister of Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Minister of Finance Dr Haafeez Sh ahead. Chairman Aptma has also sought support of the international community for overcoming prevailing country image in the international marketplace.
He has expressed the hope that a stable business environment with continuous business-friendly approach of the government would enable the textile industry to harness further the potential to generate jobs and foreign exchange for the country.