ISLAMABAD - The central chairman of Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Sajid Saleem Minhas has said that time is fast running out for Pakistan’s application for GSP Plus status and it is vital for all the stakeholders, including the provinces, to sit together and thrash out a strategy on implementation of 27 international conventions.
He said that getting GSP Plus status is vital for the survival of Pakistan’s industry and economy but with just 13 days to apply for duty-free exports status, it is shocking that provinces are not taking this issue seriously.
The textile industry is very much concerned that Sindh, KPK and AJK did not even send their representatives to the first meeting of inter-ministerial task force set-up by the Prime Minister, while Punjab, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan sent their low level representatives to this meeting.
This shows that the government is on the same page with the provinces in this matter.
He said that PRGMEA and all the associations of the textile sector are willing to lend their full support and cooperation to the government in order to ensure that implementation on all 27 international conventions is fulfilled by thecentre and provinces.
He said that PRGMEA is more than willing to act as a bridge between the provinces and centre as the issue for GSP Plus will not only bring substantial foreign exchange earnings to the exchequer but will also help in creating millions of new jobs within the provinces wherever the textile industry is situated.