Textile exporters seek steps to reduce cost of production

KARACHI: The Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA) has appealed Prime Minister Imran Khan to take measures for reducing the cost of production of value-added textile industry, in view of the shortage of cotton, cotton yarn and the skyrocketing prices and allow duty-free import of cotton and cotton yarn from Turkey, India and Uzbekistan by land to help exporters compete in the ongoing price race in international markets.

In an appeal to the prime minister, Hanif Lakhany, vice president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and senior vice chairman of Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA), Farhan Ashrafi, vice chairman of PYMA and convener FPCCI’s Central Standing Committee on Yarn Trading, said that the value-added sector in the country is facing immense difficulties due to the shortage and price of cotton and cotton yarn, which are at record levels, as cotton yarn is not available to these export industries even at high prices as per the production demand.

“If this situation continues, not only will it be difficult to fulfil export orders, but Pakistani exporters will also lose the ability to compete in [the] global markets, which could have a negative impact on the country’s exports, so the government should seriously consider PYMAs proposal in the best interest of the country’s economy,” they feared.

The PYMA office-bearers said the exporters in the value-added sector are reluctant to accept new orders due to difficulties in procuring basic raw materials due to which these orders can be transferred to other countries.

Lakhany and Ashrafi appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to assist exporters in fulfilling old export orders on time, and taking new orders, while also issuing directives to allow duty-free import of cotton, cotton yarn from Turkey, India and Uzbekistan by land.

This will not only reduce the import period of raw materials but will also help reduce the cost of freight charges.

Also Read

FPCCI dissatisfied with SMEs financing scheme

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has...