Chief Coordinator Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Ijaz A Khokhar on Wednesday said that apparel industry is suffering with the low productivity due to shortage of cotton yarn, high energy cost, and discriminating import duties on the industry's raw material.
Talking to Business Recorder he said that industry was facing price hike in yarn because low output of cotton in the country. Under the prevailing circumstances we demand that government should allow the industry to import cotton from other countries to fulfilling the demands of foreign buyers he said.
Ijaz appealed to the government that to take immediate steps to relax duties on yarn import to encourage value-addition, reduce cost of doing business and bridging the gap between production and consumption. The PRGMEA Chief Coordinator further stated that Prime Minister, Federal Commerce and Textile Minister should interact with the stakeholders for ascertaining the problems and difficulties confronted by the industry.
The PRGMEA Chief Coordinator was of the opinion that unfriendly polices were hindering exports of the country adversely and under the prevailing situation government should take drastic steps for the removal of unfriendly polices for bringing stability in exports.
He underscored the need of formulation of sector wise and regional wise policies with the consultation of stakeholders for bringing boom in export of the country adding that formulation of sector wise policies particularly regional based policies would not only help in increasing exports but also supportive in minimizing the problems confronted by the business community.