Extension in BD’s jute export ban irks Pakistan’s millers

Lahore: All the efforts of the Pakistan Jute Mills Association (PJMA) have gone in vain as Bangladesh extended the ban on jute exports until further notice, a statement said.
Earlier, Bangladesh had slapped a ban on jute exports for a month starting November 3, 2015. “Under section 4 and 13 of the Bangladesh Jute Ordinance 1962, the export of raw jute will remain suspended until further notice for proper implementation of the Bangladesh Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2009,” the statement quoted the Bangladesh’s government as saying.
The PJMA had been appealing to the government of Pakistan to intervene into this matter and get at least those consignments shipped for which the local mills have already made payments. “The PJMA terms the matter quite serious as Pakistan, being one of the biggest importers of Bangladesh jute, fulfils all the basic raw material requirements of its jute industry from the single country imports,” said the PJMA.
The association said jute industry in Pakistan is on the verge of collapse and any barrier in supply would lead to halt in production of jute products thus leaving thousands of its labour force jobless.
It said all the stakeholders, including provincial food departments are facing difficulties due to non-availability of jute sacks.
The association said the storage of the crop yields especially of wheat, rice, grains, and potatoes are likely to be wasted throughout the country because of non-supply of sacks. “PJMA appeals to the government of Bangladesh to reconsider its decision in the best interest of the business communities of both the countries,” the statement said. The jute millers expected that Bangladesh would honour prior commitments under the previous contracts. “The mills will close down within a month,” the statement said.