Pakistan Observer
Published Date: Oct 11, 2015
Textile sector backbone of entire exports
Sunday, October 11, 2015 – Faisalabad—Inherent resilience in textile sector must be complemented with immediate announcement of export package by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to overcome the ill impacts of climate change on cotton value chain in Pakistan. This was stated by Vice President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & industry (FCCI) Jameel Ahmed while talking to a group of Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) that was preparing a documentary on impacts of climate change on cotton value chain.
Jameel Ahmed said that Faisalabad was predominantly an agro industrial city, which contributed to a big way towards textile exports. Out of the total exports of 26 billion dollars, 50 percent was contributed by textile and out of it half was originated from Faisalabad alone, he added. He mentioned the recent floods that had played havoc with vast tract of Punjab province, damaging various crops including cotton crop and rendering thousands of farmers displaced.
He said that Pakistan was 4th largest cotton producing country. No doubt, BT cotton has played an important role in enhancing per acre yield but still we are producing cotton with short lint which is generally regarded as low quality hence many textile mills owners have to import fine quality cotton to produce the fine yarn counts. He said that our research institutes have done excellent job but we need for the commercialization of various technologies developed by our scientists and researchers.
He also explained in detail the bad impacts of energy crisis and told that many leading units have become sick while a large number of other units are working with only half of their installed capacity. Continuing, Vice President FCCI said the government had ensured continuous electricity supply to some extent but its cost was very high and exporters were facing a daunting competition from regional competitors. He said that textile has a major share in national GDP but it has not been given its proportionate share in policy making and funding. He stressed the need for consulting textile sector in formulation of all major economic policies.
He also said that Prime Minister should immediately announce the export package to restore the competitiveness of our textile sector. Later, he also recorded his views for a documentary prepared by SDPI on impact of climatic change on cotton value chain.—APP
Source: http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=275371