The Pakistan government is planning to import cotton from Uzbekistan via land routes after it decided against importing from India. Razak Dawood, Commerce Adviser assured value-added textile exporters he’d take up the demand of textile exporters on duty-free imports via lands, ban on yarn exports or duty on its exports with the authorities.

Exporters said imports via land is cost-effective and important considering the 40 per cent drop in production this year. They urged for permission to import yarn like pharma products that are imported from India Last week, Pakistan withdrew a decision to allow cotton imports from India. The country is facing approximately 40 percent low cotton crop, which is the lowest quantity during the last 3 decades. The government should facilitate exporters to import cotton yarn from Central Asian Republics through land route via Afghanistan as the sea route is taking prolong duration due to shortage of containers and vessels.

Availability of imported cotton yarn from Central Asian Republics through land route via Afghanistan safely will bring positive impact and textile export. The value-added textile exporters have also sought guidance from the adviser as how to operate their industries and complete export orders in the current circumstances and cotton yarn crisis which is aggravating every coming day.

They also requested the adviser commerce to expedite release of payments of duty drawbacks as quick as possible to support the textile export industry and demanded rates of gas should be same for new industrial units.