The Businessmen Group, under the guidance of Group leader Gohar Ejaz, has swept APTMA annual elections for 2014-15 for sixth consecutive term both in centre and all the three zones. All candidates of Businessmen Group were elected unopposed on 12 seats for the Central Executive Committee, according to unofficial results announced by the Election Commission of APTMA.
The Council of Businessmen Group, under the chairmanship of Javed Iqbal and former chairmen including Gohar Ejaz, Nadeem Maqbool, Mohsin Aziz, Ahsan Bashir and sitting Chairman Yasin Siddique, has unanimously nominated S M Tanveer for the office of central Chairman APTMA for 2014-15.
This year turn for the Chairmanship is from is the Punjab zone. In Punjab Zone, Seth Mohammad Akber has been elected Chairman APTMA Punjab zone. Other office bearers and all zonal members have also been elected unopposed. The newly-elected members and office bearers will take oath in the Annual General Meeting on 30th September 2014. While congratulating the newly elected members of the Businessmen Group, Group Leader APTMA Gohar Ejaz has said that unopposed win of the Group speaks volumes about the dedicated efforts, hard work and a strong commitment of the Group to serve the textile industry of Pakistan over the last six years.
Counting the achievements, he said the efforts of the Businessmen Group over the last six years have brought the textile industry exports to US$13.7 billion in 2013-14 from US$9.6 billion in 2008-09. He said the energy security for textile industry has been a challenge for the APTMA leadership. However, a string of serious efforts, strong lobbying, tangible initiatives and out of the box solutions for the policy-makers have helped the textile industry to keep it operational despite all odds.
Gohar Ejaz said the textile industry has made an investment of Rs52 billion from January to June 2014. Further investment is being planned provided the government ensures enabling environment, which will produce export surplus and create new jobs in the economy. He said the APTMA management has also played vital role in securing GSP plus status from the EU. It is a high time for the industry to realise maximum benefit of the facility, he added.
Similarly he said, the APTMA under the Businessmen Group has brought fundamental changes in government policies on issues like free market mechanism, zero rating regime, budgetary initiatives, reduction in export refinance rate and refund of industry claims on exports. Spelling the way forward, Gohar Ejaz said, APTMA being. Premier textile industry association envisages to double the textile production, employment and exports to help the government in achieving economic growth and prosperity.
He said it should be the utmost priority of the government to ensure enabling environment, a regionally competitive regime and viability to avail maximum out of the potential of textile industry. Gohar Ejaz said the Businessmen Group and APTMA management will be open to interact with the government on taking Pakistan to a growth trajectory.-PR