The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) members have elected their new chairman from the Southern zone for the fiscal year 2022-23.
In a press conference at APTMA House, Lahore Raza Baqir, Secretary General, announced the names of newly-elected members in the central as well as well zonal offices
He said Asif Inam has been elected as central Chairman, followed by Rehman Naseem as Senior Vice Chairman, Naveed Ahmed as Vice Chairman, and Asad Shafi as Vice Chairman for the value-added sector.
Furthermore, he said, Hamid Zaman has been elected as Chairman, Kamran Arshad as Senior Vice Chairman, Khawaja Muhammad Anees as Vice Chairman and Asad Shafi as Treasurer for the Northern Zone. In this way, he said, Dr Gohar Ejaz Group has clinched all the seats in the APTMA annual elections of 2022-23 for the 14th consecutive year.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gohar Ejaz congratulated his group members for securing an unprecedented 14th consecutive victory. He said textile exports of the country were stagnant at $ 12-13 billion till 2018-19 owing to multiple issues especially energy tariff and non-availability of energy for textile industry. He apprised that consequent to hectic efforts made by his Group led to the approval of Regionally Competitive Energy Tariff by the government for export-oriented sectors both for electricity and gas.
He said that energy tariff costs not more than 2.67% to the country but contributed to expanding textile exports to $ 19.33 billion during 2021-22 registering growth of 26% over the preceding year and over 54% in short span of three years.
With the view to foster exports and boost up economy of the country, Gohar unveiled his vision for future economy and announced launching of Road to $ 50 billion exports by moving to stitching sector and conversion of $ 3 billion yarn and fabrics of the country into value added garments for exports fetching addition export of $ 10 billion.
