The International Apparel Federation (IAF) regional president and Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) chief coordinator Ijaz A Khokhar has underscored the need of establishing central, provincial and regional task forces to determine the issues confronted by the industry.

He said Pakistan could grab bigger share in the global market of value-added textile adding that without the due support of the government exporters were unable to grab the share of global market. The business community engaged with textile sector was making strenuous efforts for increasing the exports of the country despite heavy odds.

He suggested that government should exempt cotton yarn, dyes, chemicals from all types of taxes and duties for encouraging this value-added sector and apparel industry should be allowed to import fabric as the weaving industry was unable to fulfill growing demand of fashion wear.

Ijaz further told that currently garment sector having a limited product line for export market due to non-availability of the latest fabric at local level adding that foreign buyers demanding new garment based on G3, G4 and technical fabric material and under the circumstance there was a great need of product diversified to compete in international market.

For this purpose government should provide special funds for initiating research and development for each industrial sector to ensure product diversification and currently we need to offer more diversified producers, he added.

PRGMEA chief coordination reiterated that government should consider on the restoration of zero rated regime for five major export-oriented industries (sports, surgical, leather, carpet and textile) on the priority basis for the survival of exports of the country.