PRGMEA Has Sought Level-Playing Field for Value-Added Textile Industry

The Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) has sought level-playing field for value-added textile industry of Punjab vis-à-vis other provinces.

The garment industry in Punjab is becoming uncompetitive within Pakistan due to prolonged power load shedding and five-day gas supply suspension a week, while there is smooth gas and power supply in other provinces, Jawwad Chaudhry, senior vice chairman of PRGMEA North Zone, said.

Mr. Chaudhry said the value-added textile industry in Punjab is facing problems because of the increasing cost of production due to gas shortages, higher electricity tariff, and amounts stuck up with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in sales tax refunds.

He urged the Government to provide a level playing industry for the Punjab-based clothing industry by providing greater gas and power supply, which will help exporters reduce their energy costs, and by releasing the amounts stuck up in sales tax refunds.

He further requested the Government to refrain from any further hike in electricity charges.

Established in 1981, PRGMEA is the premier trade organization representing the readymade garment industry in Pakistan. The association provides advice and services to manufacturers and exporters.

In recent days, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and the Pakistan Textile Exporters’ Association (PTEA) have also urged the Government to resolve the energy crisis at the earliest.

APTMA Punjab also requested Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar to direct the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to start processing the sales tax refund claims of textile mills, and adhere to the September 2014 deadline of liquidating the sales tax refunds pledged by him in his Budget Speech 2014-15.