The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab Chairman Aamir Fayyaz has held the government responsible for continuous decline in exports from the country. He said that the government’s indifferent attitude towards the Punjab-based textile industry is disgusting. He added that the export data for November 2015 reveals that exports of cotton yarn and cotton fabric have dropped by 45 per cent and 22 per cent respectively against the corresponding period in quantitative terms consequently an overall decline by 15 per cent in value terms.

There is a nominal increase in clothing exports during the same period, he said and added that the textile exports constitute $8 billion of total exports against $4 billion of clothing exports. He said the government's apathy towards the textile industry has resulted into closure of 100 mills out of 270 mills across the Punjab.

Earlier, during a press conference, he said that government has imposed anti-dumping duty on cotton yarn while leaving the import of MMF yarns unattended, as the relevant notification does not cover them. The government has allowed long-term financing facility (LTFF), which would have no immediate impact because of the hostile environment for new investments. Finally, there is only one per cent reduction in the export refinance facility, which has not even been extended to spinning and weaving. He said that SNGPL has shutdown gas supply to the Punjab-based textile mills altogether, increasing the number of closed down mills to 70.

He also discussed in detail the prevailing adverse circumstances, including 40 per cent drop in cotton arrival in Punjab, unaffordable electricity tariff and burdening of industry with domestic taxes, and urged the government to do away with them without any further delay. While speaking on the occasion, former chairmen APTMA Gohar Ejaz urged the government to restore gas supply immediately besides tariff rationalisation of electricity to improve country’s exports.

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