FAISALABAD: State Minister for Commerce and Textile Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari said on Sunday that his ministry had compiled a summary regarding the problems faced by the textile sector, which would be submitted before the National Assembly to pave way for immediate relief and sustained growth of this important segment of the national economy.
Addressing members of All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) here, he said that he was fully aware of the issues of textile sector and was trying from day one to resolve the same. However, he added that many of these issues were linked with other ministries and in order to settle these, he will arrange meetings of the representatives of the textile sector with the higher officials of these ministries.
He said that he had already brought the issues of delay in refund-claims, and abuse of discretionary powers by tax officials, into the notice of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue Haroon Akhtar who had assured that the issues would be addressed on a priority basis.
Regarding local issues, Akram Ansari said that he would have a meeting with Inland Revenue chief commissioner. He has also requested MNAs Mian Abdul Mannan and Chaudhry Nisar to join him in the meeting which would also be attended by the representatives of textile sector.
Similarly, another meeting with Faisalabad deputy commissioner would also be arranged to resolve the issues relating to the environment, social security and Punjab Revenue Authority etc, he added.
Responding to a question about Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC), the minister requested the APTPMA chairman to nominate two to three representatives so that he could arrange their meeting with the concerned authorities to settle down these issues amicably. “No doubt government is focusing on enhancing exports but the issues of the local industry would also be taken care-off,” he said.
In his welcome address, APTPMA Chairman Khalid Habib Sheikh underlined the problems confronted by the textile processing sector and said that high cost of doing business, GIDC, sales tax on import of coal, turn over tax, withholding tax and refund issues had shattered the profitability of this sector. He added that smuggling of clothes was yet another threat to this value-added and labour-intensive industry.
He also demanded a separate electricity tariff for the textile sector besides demanding to withdraw the notification for banning the import of cotton and yarn.
Later, APTPMA shield was presented to State Minister Muhammad Akram Ansari.
