The textile industry in Pakistan wants protection from the invasion of subsidised textile products. It wants a 15 per cent regulatory duty to be immediately imposed on synthetic yarns and fabrics meant for domestic consumption.

The textile sector in Pakistan makes up 57 per cent of the country’s total exports. It wants payment of refunds, drawback on local taxes and levies, product focus market schemes, export refinance, availability of all types of raw materials, cotton and manmade fiber at competitive prices and cotton research through a public-private partnership. Above all it wants investment to flow into the sector so that the objective of doubling exports can be reached.

Pakistan’s trade policy has identified four main points – product sophistication and diversification (research and development, value addition, and branding), market access (enhancing share in existing markets, exploring new markets, trade diplomacy and regionalism), institutional development and strengthening (restructuring, capacity building, and new institutions), and trade facilitation (reducing cost of doing business, standardization, and regulatory measures) to boost the economy.

A significant number of textile mills in key manufacturing hubs of the country have shut down because of their inability to compete with low cost rivals of the likes of Bangladesh and Vietnam.