The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab held at the Punjab office of the Association on Monday.
The induction of newly elected unopposed Chairman APTMA Punjab Adil Bashir along with Senior Vice Chairman Abdul Rahim Nasir, Vice Chairman Aamir Sheikh, and Treasurer Kamran Arshad took place in the presence of the general body of the Association.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman APTMA Punjab Adil Bashir thanked all Punjab Zone members, Group Leader Gohar Ejaz and Central outgoing Chairman Syed Ali Ahsan for their continued confidence and valuable support.
While terming the preceding one year as challenging one, he said withdrawal of SRO 1125 zero-rating of 5 exporting sectors, delay in notification of regionally competitive energy tariff and non-availability of enabling environment for investment and growth were the major challenges industry is confronted with.
However, he added, a series of meetings with the government functionaries led to the resolution of some of the issues faced by the industry.
He said APTMA management is further engaged with the government to develop long-term textile policy for the growth and sustainability of the industry. Energy affordability has been the main issue of the Punjab industry which has been resolved for now but it is high time that the billing mechanism is also settled and the industry doesn't have to go to the court again and again to get the government notified tariffs implemented, he added.
He said the new team would try to put in their best efforts to get the other issues resolved such as duty on cotton, GIDC liabilities, sales tax refunds, non-trading bonds, refund ceiling criteria, withdrawal input tax adjustment condition, clarification of CNIC condition on sales and LTFF for indirect exports. He assured members of providing assistance and support for the well-being of the industry in the Punjab.
Group leader APTMA congratulated the new team of APTMA Punjab, saying that the industry in Punjab is passing through a difficult time and it demands a dedicated approach from the new office-bearers.