Pakistan’s value-added textile exporters want the government to abolish customs duty on cotton yarn imports to support the industry and ensure timely completion of export orders. In a statement, Pakistan Apparel Forum Chairman and former Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) central chairman Muhammad Jawed Bilwani said the government should immediately abolish customs duty on import of cotton yarn either by passing through a presidential ordinance or by an immediate act of the parliament in the interest of export industry of the country.

He said value-added textile exporters are facing a tough time due to the unavailability of cotton yarn – a basic raw material– while huge export orders are available with the value-added sector. Moreover, the cotton yarn available locally is below standard hence, exporters are unable to meet export commitment. The PHMA had earlier too demanded the government to allow duty-free import of cotton yarn to facilitate value-added textile export sector; however, the government considered removing the regulatory duty only.