Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters (PHMA) has urged the federal government to allow a duty-free import of cotton and its yarn from India, Uzbekistan and Turkey through land routes since local market has run out of the input commodities. Muhammad Javed Bilwani, Chief Coordinator, PHMA says, cotton yarn prices have been increased 40 to 70 per cent in Pakistan and the available cotton yarn is of a substandard quality that has forced exporters to hold up signing fresh deals for global markets

The situation has also compelled the exporters to defer new orders that are likely to be diverted to other regional countries, he adds as per a Business Recorder report. Sea freight charges have also soared approximately 700 per cent with shortages of cargo containers and vessels extending delivery time from 45 days to 90 days. The government needs to support and facilitate the value-added garment and home textile exporters on war footing basis, Bilwani adds in a letter to Abdul Razzak Dawood, Advisor to the Prime Minister.

The letter suggests an effective way to deal with the crisis is to import the input commodity through the shortest possible land routes from India, Uzbekistan and Turkey. Similarly, a duty free import of cotton and its yarn should also be allowed and facilitated from Uzbekistan and Turkey through land routes, the letter adds.