RECORDER REPORT

SIALKOT: An interactive session of business community with Punjab’s Caretaker Minister for Commerce Mian Anjum Nisar and Caretaker Minister for Labour Mian Nouman Kabir was held at Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) to highlight the problems confronted by the business community of Sialkot since long.

Speaking on the occasion PRGMEA Chief Coordinator Ijaz A. Khokhar said that value-chain apparel industry is highly important which is not only contributing considerable foreign exchange to national exchequer but also providing huge employment opportunities for the workforce while fulfilling its national obligations by paying taxes in billions of rupees.

He said, despite certain internal and external challenges, the Textile sector had enhanced the export graph to 0.04 percent while readymade garments sector had successfully increased the export graph to 5.55 percent. He further said the share of textile industry was recorded 60 percent in overall exports while employment was provided to 40 percent people.

Ijaz stressed the need of early clearance of outstanding refund cases. He said industry was under serious financial constraints due to non-clearance of refund cases. He said delay in clearance of refund cases was creating hurdles in enhancing export. He urged the caretaker ministers to convey to the government that under prevailing circumstance, the government should take immediate steps for clearance of outstanding refund cases to protect the industry from total collapse.

“At present, there is a great need of focusing on ease of doing business and marketing,” he said, lamenting that attention of exporters was diverted to 20 different departments which create certain hurdles to upset the exporters which is unjust.

Ijaz said there is a great need of setting up one window operation to facilitate the business community. He said there are wide possibilities to enhance export but they are unable to compete the international market due to high cost of electricity, gas, increase in taxes ratio and defective policies.

The caretaker provincial minister urged the business community of Sialkot to focus on enhancing export volume from the area. They lauded the role of business community of Sialkot for keeping the national flag higher and higher at international level.