Call to achieve targets in textile sector

FAISALABAD: National Textile University Rector Dr Arshad Ali has said that it is need of the hour to achieve the set targets for progress in the textile sector.
Talking to FCCI president Rizwan Ashraf and other office-bearers here on Wednesday, Dr Arshad underlined the importance of vision 2025 and told that he had written a letter to Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, to improve existing infrastructure in addition to infusing a new spirit with a positive change in our mindset. He said that instead of depending on the government, we must collaborate to resolve our issues. He said that 95 per cent of our textile industry was looked after by the NTU graduates. They were fully aware of ground realities and issues faced by textile sector, he said and added that that they should be consulted on formulation of the proposed action plan in order to make it result-oriented on sustained basis.
FCCI president Rizwan Ashraf informed the NTU rector & other faculty members of the university that Pakistan’s share in the world’s textile trade was only one per cent despite of the fact that it was the fourth largest cotton producing country in the world. He urged to make conscious and collaborated efforts to increase our share to a reasonable level which should be proportionate to our potential. He said that Federal Minister for Planning Prof Ahsan Iqbal had fixed an ambitions target of enhancing textile exports within 5 years to $25 billion from existing exports of $13 billion and later $150 billion by 2025. He said that these targets could be achieved only after making business-friendly environment in the country. The FCCI president also stressed a close liaison between the government, academia and industry to suggest plans to achieve these targets. He said that the government had its own priorities but industry and the NTU must sit together to make plans for survival of this sector.