Minister stresses for increase in value-added textile exports

LAHORE: There is need for well-planned efforts to increase value-addition in textile sector for capturing more shares in the regional and international markets, a minister said.
Textile exports decreased, but the decrease was in exports of low-valued textile products, like cotton, yarn and gray fabric, said Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan, addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association’s (PRGMEA) three-day international Textile Asia Exhibition at Lahore Expo.
Dastgir said exports of value-added garment registered a significant growth.
“Pakistan’s exports of readymade garments grew 10.05 percent 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.
The 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.
Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice chairman Malik Naseer said 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.