Having witnessed that Indian yarn import into Pakistan have quadrupled within six months impacting negatively on the Pakistan local market, Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association has demanded imposition of 15 percent regulatory duty on imports of cotton yarn from India.

PYMA zonal chairman Muhammad Akram Pasha and zonal vice chairman Adnan Zahid on Saturday, stated that during the six months of year 2014 July to December total quantity of yarn imported from India was Rs 15.8 billion while in the same period of preceding year the total import was Rs 4.2 billion.

They said that India was trying to sabotage the Pakistani yarn market and spinning sector by dumping heavily subsidized yarn exports from that country. They explained that Indian government was giving various incentives and subsidies to its exporters enabling them to dump their cotton yarn in Pakistani markets. The imports of cotton yarn from India were thus destroying the textile sector of Pakistan.

Substantiating their arguments, they said that textile was backbone of Pakistani economy which was earning more than 50% of total foreign exchange for the country. Furthermore huge number of textile industries and value added chain were connected with the spinning sectors and yarn market. Therefore if the imported Indian cotton yarn is allowed to enter in Pakistani market then not only the textile sector but also the value added chain of industry would be completely destroyed and millions of workers and allied supply chain would be rendered jobless.

The government has been imposing regulatory and anti-dumping duties on imports of chemicals, and other items from various countries. Similarly regulatory duty @ 15% should be imposed on import of cotton yarn from India.

Despite, demand being raised by various business and industry circles over the last many months. The Pakistan government has not so far taken any concrete action in this matter. The government should take cognizance of the matter and immediately imposed 15% regulatory duty on import of cotton yarn from India to save the business industry and export of the country.

It will not only protect the local market the yarn business the value added industry chain and allied business suppliers but will also enable the Pakistani exporters to earn much needed foreign exchange for the country.