Pakistan govt to increase textile output mull over reducing import duties

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, during his meeting an Italian business delegation on Wednesday, said that to achieve better production, duties had already been brought down from 43 percent to 9 percent.

However, Pakistan is considering to further decrease import duties on machinery in order to improve production of textiles and other leather apparels.

The ministers expressed his desire and resolve to make the agriculture sector modern by facilitating the farmers. This could only be achieved through modern mechanization, and by enhancing the volume of existing bilateral trade and focusing on agricultural commodities.

The Italian delegation also showed keen interest in coming to Pakistan in future, and helping the country in advanced farming as Italy was quite advanced in farming, and have a wide range of machinery for the purpose.

Bosan has asked the delegates to establish post harvest processing units for pest mitigation and photo-sanitation, hot water treatment plants, vapour heat treatment plants and individual quick frozen facilities. He assured full support for business to business contacts between Italy and Pakistan.

Italy is the third largest export destination for Pakistani products in EU, which include textiles, clothing, and leather apparel. In 2014-15, volume of export reached $941.13 million.