LAHORE: Despite an unprecedented protest rally by textile spinners in Islamabad last week, fate of the textile sector still hangs in balance, as the government is keeping mum over the expected relief package to be announced in the upcoming Textile Policy.
Sources in the textile sector informed that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has informed disgruntled textile millers that he has sent their demands to his advisor on Finance Dr Salman Shah for further consideration. However, the fact that the letter sheds no light on any immediate actions that the government will take has perturbed the millers.
Therefore, as the sources told Daily Times, the spinners have contacted other sectoral associations like Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA) and Pakistan Towel Manufacturers Association (PTMA), besides a few others, to organise another protest procession in Islamabad.
Sources in the textile associations said that other associations have not only appreciated the effort made by the disgruntled All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) members but also assured the leadership of All Pakistan Textile Association (APTA) to join their hands in future with them for any such venture to survive.
Meanwhile, it is also learnt on good authority that a large number of APTMA members have refused paying annual fee to APTMA, due to be paid by June 30. According to these circles, the textile millers want immediate resolution to their problem of rising costs and they are supporting the APTA leadership on this front.
Similarly, the stakeholders in the value-added sector, including readymade garments and hosiery, are also not happy with slashing down the Research and Development Fund to 3 percent from earlier 6 percent and they are also crying for immediate relief. They are ready to follow APTA’s footprints of protesting in front of the Parliament. It may be noted that the government is working on the Textile Policy right now and is expected to announce it by the second week of July.
Spinners are strongly pursuing the government to immediately cut their costs of production and have warned it of the trickling down of this crisis at their end. Government has shown seriousness over the issue but the textile millers still believe that it is not enough, as according to them, Dr Salman Shah is already aware of the problems faced by the textile sector. They further added that Dr Salman Shah’s attitude was not favourable to the industry and referring the issue again to him by the Prime Minister would bring nothing good out of him.
Sources in the textile sector informed that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has informed disgruntled textile millers that he has sent their demands to his advisor on Finance Dr Salman Shah for further consideration. However, the fact that the letter sheds no light on any immediate actions that the government will take has perturbed the millers.
Therefore, as the sources told Daily Times, the spinners have contacted other sectoral associations like Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA) and Pakistan Towel Manufacturers Association (PTMA), besides a few others, to organise another protest procession in Islamabad.
Sources in the textile associations said that other associations have not only appreciated the effort made by the disgruntled All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) members but also assured the leadership of All Pakistan Textile Association (APTA) to join their hands in future with them for any such venture to survive.
Meanwhile, it is also learnt on good authority that a large number of APTMA members have refused paying annual fee to APTMA, due to be paid by June 30. According to these circles, the textile millers want immediate resolution to their problem of rising costs and they are supporting the APTA leadership on this front.
Similarly, the stakeholders in the value-added sector, including readymade garments and hosiery, are also not happy with slashing down the Research and Development Fund to 3 percent from earlier 6 percent and they are also crying for immediate relief. They are ready to follow APTA’s footprints of protesting in front of the Parliament. It may be noted that the government is working on the Textile Policy right now and is expected to announce it by the second week of July.
Spinners are strongly pursuing the government to immediately cut their costs of production and have warned it of the trickling down of this crisis at their end. Government has shown seriousness over the issue but the textile millers still believe that it is not enough, as according to them, Dr Salman Shah is already aware of the problems faced by the textile sector. They further added that Dr Salman Shah’s attitude was not favourable to the industry and referring the issue again to him by the Prime Minister would bring nothing good out of him.
Source : http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C06%5C27%5Cstory_27-6-2007_pg5_7
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