APTMA worries about underperforming textile industry

In Pakistan, six major sub-sectors of textile industry have shut down due to energy crisis, high cost of doing business and inconsistency in government policies, said Tariq Saud, the Chairman of All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association.

About 30% of the textile industry’s production capacity worth $3,467 million is not into operations thereby affecting the country’s exports, he stated.

During 2006-13, Pakistan’s share in the global market has reduced from 2.2% to 1.8% due to weak performance of the textile industry whereas market share of regional competitors increased by 75% from 1.9% to 3.3%, he said.

He further said that if this scenario continues to be the same, then it is perceived that Pakistan would be soon excluded from the list of textile exporting countries.

He said that the domestic market is already dumped with cheap and subsidised textile clothing imports.

It is not feasible to export cotton yarn to India as the customs duty on import is 28% there whereas it is mere 5% in Pakistan, he said.

Consequently, many textile mills have ended up shutting their operations on failing to compete with Indian textile industry.

The Indian government has introduced the Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) and some incentives to promote and grow the textile industry of India, he added.

However, he said, not even one notification regarding the Textile Policy 2014-19 has been issued so far.