In a desperate move apparel sector demanded of the caretaker government to link provision of research and development (R&D) to the cotton yarn sector with the commodity sales in the local market.

They said that Government should forthwith link the provision of R&D with the cotton sale in the local market. Reiterating the primary demand, Javed Bilwani, Chief Co-coordinator of Pakistan Apparel Forum (PAF), said that the caretaker Government should provide the cotton yarn sector with the R&D, but make it sell the commodity in the local market in order to salvage the dwindling value-added garments sector.

He said that about five months ago, the price of good quality cotton yarn per pound was Rs 62 which had gone up to Rs 73 presently and the medium quality was available at Rs 53 per pound had reached Rs 65. Consequently, the export orders booked earlier have become difficult for them to fulfill on time and faced with the financial losses running into million of rupees in current season.

Enumerating the losses after the increase in gas and cotton yarn prices, the value-added garments industry is striving hard to sustain the losses. However, he urged upon the Government to lesson the huge increasing financial burden from this industry by providing the raw items on reasonable prices in the local market.