All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has expressed worries over declining trend in textiles exports, saying that the industry is on its way to becoming ‘history’ since the government has turned its back, Pakistani newspapers have reported.

“The Association has been blowing the whistle constantly over decline in textile industry exports but the government has done little to arrest the trend,” Aptma chairman SM Tanveer said.

He said latest export data has revealed that textile exports have registered a decline of six per cent in value terms in May 2015 against the corresponding period a year ago. In quantity terms, he added, exports of cotton cloth, towel and art, silk and synthetic textile have also lost their positions against the corresponding period.

He said while Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports were stagnant since 2006, regional competitors have doubled their exports.

Tanveer said high cost of doing business and absence of conducive environment has impaired 30 per cent production capacity resulting into loss of textile exports worth $3325 million.

“Issues like gas and electricity supply cuts, energy affordability, incidentals of taxation and over-valued Pakistani rupee have has hampered growth and textile industry has been left behind technologically in the region,” he said.

He urged the government to ensure zero rating of export oriented textile industry for all incidentals including taxes, duties, surcharges, levies and cess by extending drawbacks receipts realised by the State Bank of Pakistan at 5 per cent on yarn, 10 per cent on fabrics and 15 per cent on made ups/garments.

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