Textile Briefs - National

    Pakistan has allowed Afghanistan to import eight more banned items including cotton yarn and polyester under Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) arrangements.

    The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has waived the 2% surcharge on delay in clearance of imported goods if these are cleared by March 31, 2003.

    After a robust rise in lint prices, which continued by and large from the very beginning of this season, cotton rates have conceded about Rs 50 per maund (37.32 kg) and turnover has also reduced due to prolongation of the war in Iraq.

    Founder Chairman and Patron-in-Chief of Towel Manufactures Association of Pakistan (TMAP), S M A Rizvi, has urged Humayun Akhtar, Federal Minister for Commerce, and Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Federal Minister for Industry, to hold meetings with trade bodies to discuss the issues of high cost of production, impact of USA attack on Iraq and power tariff.

    Pakistan would invest in the Export Processing Zones of Bangladesh particularly in textile, agro- based and pharmaceutical sectors.

    Agriculture scientists urged the growers not to cultivate costly Bt cotton on a single inch of piece of their lands during the current Kharif 2003-2004 cotton crop season to avoid any disasters, and prevent the spread of cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV).

    A large number of textile and apparel exporters made it clear that the war in Iraq will certainly have a negative impact on business, mainly due to rising costs and a delay in orders from importing countries.

    Punjab Seed Corporation (PSC) will provide certified seed of cotton and paddy to the growers for the coming Kharif crops.

    Textile exporters have demanded abolition of export development surcharge (EDS) and adequate compensatory rebate to offset sudden jump in raw material and overhead costs.

    The huge influx of cheap imported polyester filament yarn (PFY) will unleash negative impact that may close weaker local units, and some large companies might suffer decline in sales.

    All Pakistan Powerlooms Association (APPA) has urged the government to reduce tariffs on import of polyester yarn.

    The Vice President APPA, Mohammad Ashfaq said that high import tariff and large scale smuggling of fabric had led to closure of over 60,000 powerlooms all over the country.

    The sharp rise in the prices of polyester fibre and cotton yarn within a short period has emerged as an unexpected threat to the tempo of exports from the country's textile sector.

    Gujranwala Art Silk Yarn Merchants Association (ASYMA) has urged the government to impose 100% anti-dumping duty on those imported items, which are also being produced in the country.

    The Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Sardar Yar Mohammad Khan Rind, has stressed upon the research organisations to evolve high-yielding, virus-resistant and long-staple cotton varieties for both quantitative and qualitative improvement in country's cotton production.

    Pakistani exports would be severely affected on account of the war surcharge being imposed on imports by the shipping companies.

    Pakistan Open End Spinners Association (POESA), has suggested to Federal Government to reduce the General Sales Tax (GST) to 8% from 15% and adjudication Collector be appointed from judiciary, instead of CBR.

    The Quota Supervisory Council (QSC) has urged textile exporters to provide complete details about their unutilised quota in categories 6, 9, and 20 at the earliest because of the issue of re-crediting the unused quota.