FAISALABAD:Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone’s Chairman Mian Farrukh Iqbal has said that redressing the challenges confronting the industry and promoting exports required collective efforts, mutual cooperation, and a coordinated strategy among all office-bearers and members.
He said the industry’s concerns would be effectively raised before the government and relevant institutions and the same will be highlighted through print and electronic media to secure practical and sustainable solutions to the problems faced by exporters.
He was addressing a monthly meeting of the zonal committee of the association held at the PHMA zonal office here on Thursday.
The meeting discussed in detail the challenges facing the hosiery and value-added textile export industry, government policies, and the association’s future course of action.
Chairman Mian Farrukh Iqbal also thanked office-bearers and senior members who travelled from Lahore and Sialkot to attend the meeting.
PHMA Central Chairman Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain briefed participants on a recent zoom meeting with the Secretary Commerce and Rana Ehsan Afzal, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Commerce, during which key concerns of the hosiery and value-added textile export sector were discussed.
He said that the main demands are restoration of the Duty Drawback of Local Taxes and Levies (DLTL) at 6 to 8 per cent of the Free on Board (FOB) value, reduction in electricity and gas tariffs, maintenance of the policy interest rate in single digits, reduction of the income tax rate to 1.25 per cent, and timely payment of customs rebates and other outstanding refunds.
He stressed that reducing production costs and ensuring policy consistency were essential to improving the competitiveness of Pakistani exporters in international markets.
He urged all PHMA offices and office-bearers to adopt a coordinated approach to presenting these demands to the relevant authorities and securing lasting solutions for the industry.
Former PHMA North Zone Chairman Mian Kashif Zia highlighted various issues confronting the industry, particularly the difficulties faced by industrial units in dealing with the Environmental Protection Department.
He proposed inviting relevant officials to the association’s platform to discuss industry concerns and develop appropriate solutions through consultation and effective coordination.
The meeting was also attended by PHMA North Zone Senior Vice Chairman Izhar-ul-Haq of Lahore, Vice Chairman Naveed Afzal Mir of Sialkot, members of the Executive Committee, and other senior members from Faisalabad, Lahore and Sialkot.