Pakistan's Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan has claimed that his government is making some serious and well-planned efforts to increase value-addition in the textile sector to attract more shares in the regional and international markets, according to media reports in the country.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association's (PRGMEA) three-day international Textile Asia Exhibition at Lahore Expo, said while exports of value-added garment registered a significant growth, exports of low-valued textile products, like cotton, yarn and gray fabric declined.
“Pakistan's exports of readymade garments grew 10.05 per cent to $2.101 billion in 2014-15 from $1.909 billion, despite the internal and external challenges,” he said.
“I want every staple length of our cotton and yarn be transformed into cloth and garments for exports. Value addition is needed in entire chain of textile sector. It is blessing in disguise that low value textile products export has decreased, giving us opportunity to convert it into high value,” he said.
PRGMEA central chairman Ijaz Khokhar said the exhibition is aimed at focusing the immense buying and selling potential of textile and garment machinery, accessories, raw material supplies, chemicals and allied services under one roof.
PRGMEA vice chairman Malik Naseer reiterated that billions of rupees of textile exporters are blocked in sales tax and customs rebate and other schemes introduced in the textile policy for 2009-14.
