Central Chairman of Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Ijaz A Khokhar has said that business community engaged with ready-made garments is making adequate efforts to enhance export volume. Despite certain problems and odds the business community will continue its efforts for enhancing the export volume with concept of strengthening national exchequer with national spirit he said. Sialkot is second largest export city of Martial Art in the world and the local business community was making strenuous efforts to further enhance the export of Martial Art Uniforms he said.
Talking to Business Recorder on Monday he said that presently there are 125 exporters in Sialkot and the city is earning US 400 million dollar adding efforts were underway for bringing big boost in the export to 1 billion dollars by 2020. PRGMEA Chairman said that we are pressing government to review its Textile Policy enabling the textile sector to attain the targets adding that government should take drastic steps for the removal of hurdles which are hindering the export of textile sector.
We understand that formulation of sector wise policies is the only remedial solution to avoid decline and to stabilize the exports he said. Ijaz said the formulation of sector wise policies would not only help in increasing exports but also supportive in minimizing the problems confronted by the business community.
Ijaz said that due to non-availability of latest fabric locally, the garment sector currently have a limited product line for export market adding that foreign buyers are demanding new garments on G3, G4 and technical fabric raw material which are not available and produced by Pakistani weavers so far.
Ijaz said at present more than 30 percent cash flow is blocked since long in the shape of sales tax refund and custom rebates which is adversely damaging cash liquidity for boosting business. Our value added products are unable to fetch high value due to the poor packaging and under the circumstances there is need of setting up a product and packaging centre for ensuring better packaging he added.
He said our research and development is very weak due to the high cost of utility and allied factors and under the circumstances government should announce special R&D support fund for innovation of new products and to upgrade the workplaces and if government announce special package of concessions export could be enhanced 8 billion dollars he added. Underscoring the need of that government should fill the communication gape and take stakeholders on board for finding ways and means for enhancing export and to address the problems confronted by the business community of the country he said.