KARACHI (APP) - Advisor to the Prime Minister on Textile Ministry, Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig on Friday unveiled his vision for the revival and boosting of textile industry. Dr. Baig, personally a leading exporter having long experience and expertise especially in textile sector, told APP here that he would strive to improve the supply chain and availability of clean raw cotton at competitive rates. Besides, he will also strive for review of infrastructure, consistent supply of water, power and gas to the textile industry at affordable rates. He underlined the need for value-addition in textile sector by converting our raw material to value- added products. He emphasised on reduction of cost of doing business in textile sector by enhancing productivity, human resources and skill development. To broaden the export base to non-traditional new markets and to make export of textile products at zero rated in true sense. Presently, the taxes on Pakistani exports range from 4% to 5% which include withholding tax. The Advisor and senior business leader said the country needs more market access to sign Free Trade Agreements, Preferential Trade Agreements, Regional Trade Agreements and ROZs which should cover Pakistan's textile products as well. The ROZs have been planned for FATA, Waziristan and other areas bordering Afghanistan. He said he would also pursue the announcement of Pakistan Textile Policy-2008. PM's's Advisor on Textiles Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, who is also Chairman of Baig Group of Companies and Deputy Coordinator of Pakistan People's Business Forum (PPP), outlined the course of action : 1) the data will be obtained of all the textile units closed during 2008 with their specific reason of closure to ascertain the common problem being faced by the textile industry and to take remedial measure for their revival. 2) to pursue the demand of the textile sector for the reduction of mark- ups by the banks as well as export re-finance by SBP. 3) Review of the tight monetary and increasing mark up policies which is hurting the growth of industrialisation in the country from 18% to 5% of Gross Domestic Production (GDP). 4) To meet the per acre yield of cotton there is already a contact with the Government for supply of BT cotton higher yield seeds to increase the cotton production in the country. 5) To ensure the implementation for the supply of contamination- free cotton to textile industry. 6) Up-gradation of plant and machinery of ginning industry/ textile sector to be treated as priority sector in terms of utility rates. Cross subsidy in gas prices given to other sectors at the cost of textile industry is hurting our cost of production and has to be borne by the Government as their subsidy rather than burdening the textile sector. 7) To establish internationally accredited testing laboratories in major cities including Okotex certification. Presently our textile products are sent to Hong Kong and other countries for testing to meet buyers' requirements. We also do not have any Okotex certifying laboratory in Pakistan and send our fabrics to UK and other European countries for Okotex certification which takes a long time and costs substantially. 8) There is a great potential to increase our textile exports to Turkey and Iran. Iran is buying Pakistani textile products (fabric) from Turkey because of the concessional tariff. There is huge potential to directly supply our textile product to Iran market if some preferential tariff is allowed. 9) Research and Development (R&D) facility to be allowed to textile sector to support our exports. 10) To increase man made fibre use in our textile industry from 23% to 50% for less reliance on cotton as our regional competitors are using 50% cotton and the same quantity of man-made fibre.