MoC lauded for safeguarding textile sector amid corona crisis

LAHORE: The textile industry on Friday lauded the timely measures taken by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) in resolving its issues, including energy rates for both RLNG/Gas at $6.5MMBtu and 7.5cents/kWh (all-inclusive), amid the prevailing coronavirus crisis.

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Patron-in-Chief Gohar Ijaz, in his two separate letters to Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood and Commerce Secretary Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukehra, stated the textile industry has expressed its deepest gratitude for them and their team’s untiring, selfless and courageous work to keep the industry afloat.

Ijaz said due to the ministry’s efforts, millions of workers had been protected under extremely dangerous and testing times owing to the COVID-19 spread.

“This is because of the dedication shown by the minister and the secretary who understood the industry’s problems and released Rs27 billion refunds dating back from 2009.”

Ijaz noted that with the efforts of the commerce ministry, additional Rs100 billion refunds are in the process of disbursement, adding that a robust and practical five-year textile policy has been formulated and approved by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He lauded Dawood and Sukehra for regularly highlighting the sales tax refund issues at the highest forum. He also appreciated both for moratorium on debt and extension of facilities to indirect exporters.