Textile exporters for removing inequalities in 18th Amendment
Staff Reporter
Faisalabad—Textile exporters have urged the political leadership of the country and the parliamentarians to remove inequalities of 18th amendment ensuring equal distribution and fair sharing of natural resources, gas and electricity, among the provinces for economic progress and national cohesiveness, said Rana Arif Tauseef, chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association.
In a statement issued here Wednesday, he said, it was in the vital interest of the country that all regions were provided opportunities and resources on equity basis enabling them to utilize their full potential and contribute maximum towards strengthening the economic base and well being of the people.
Industrial activity, trade, business peace and law and order were major factors and milestones in this regard, he said. He said over the last few years, the textile industry is facing the crisis of productivity, shortage of inputs - gas and electricity, higher cost of production and uncompetitiveness in international markets. Consequently the textile exports of the country have dipped down over the last three months as substantiated by the official data showing decrease of 159.5 million dollars in October last, 194 million dollars in November and 225 million dollars in December.
The decline would be more in coming months and would amount to around 300 million dollars, he apprehended. PTEA chairman said, nearly 50% of textile units in Faisalabad were shut down and the remaining were working below the capacity due to discriminatory distribution of gas and electricity to Punjab culminating in forced closure of industry for five days a week.
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