Ijaz A Khokhar, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) spokesperson said that to bring about revolutionary changes to enhance the export volume, it has submitted proposals to the Prime Minister.
Khokhar stated that to enhance the export of Pakistani products, a permanent display centre ‘Pakistan Trade House’ should be established in Dubai. Presently, their value-added products were unable to fetch high price because of poor packaging, he said. Thus, there was a great need to set up a product development and packaging centre in universities aimed at involving graduate students to help the industry improve the product line and packaging for better price, he added.
Special incentives for Research and Development (R&D) to enable the SMEs for up-gradation of machinery, innovation of new products and the compliance of issues should be announced by the government, said Khokhar. He also feels that an aggressive marketing plan for garment export to gain maximum benefits of GSP status was required at this point. Besides, to monitor all garment exports activity and policy-making for maximising exports, he stated, a high power committee comprising public and private sector in the name of ‘Garment Export Promotion Council’ should be constituted.
Moreover, the PRGMEA has also requested the government that import of fabric should be allowed under SRO 492 instead of DTRE, which is very complicated. Under this, merely 2 per cent exporters can avail while 97 per cent SME sector can be facilitated under SRO-492.
www.prgmea.org
