Page 68 - TEXtalks November/December 2021
P. 68

68                                                                                                                                                                                                                             69








































             Azfar Hasan highlighted the impact of GSP+ Status   countries have shown consolidation, and even after
             and its worth for Pakistan's textile sector. The GSP+   the removal of GSP+ Status, they are not very much
             Status helped Pakistan recover after Pakistan lost the   affected. Similarly, Pakistan has to learn from these                             Romina Kochius. Project Manager TextILES. GIZ GmbH  Hamid Zaman. Chairman. APTMA North. Pakistan
 beneficiary countries towards implementing 27   and it should be positive so that the parliamentarians   market to the USA due to the 9/11 incident.   countries and do the needful to rely only on the EU   climate-neutral products for the world. Here, not only   The government and the industry should work
 international conventions. As Pakistan's GSP+ Status   can see the improvements and thus, extend the   Pakistan's export to the EU is enormous, and it is   exports. Product diversification is the need of the   the exporters are trying to make sustainable   together to achieve noticeable results.
 is currently under review in the EU parliament, the   GSP+ regime of Pakistan. For the next report, we are   getting even better in denim and knitwear. Nobody   hour and must be backed by the right government   products, even the local industries are trying to take
 discussion was just at the right time, providing future   working with Pakistan's government to help in   can deny that the current and even the new   policies. However, the industry should step up in this   up the sustainable initiative as social responsibility.   As the organizations go larger from small
 directions and throwing light on what was going on   drafting the subsequent report for maximum positive   conventions are for the betterment of the textile   regard.   She mentioned that she is thrilled with the partners'   businesses, the SMEs find it hard to invest a massive
 with the GSP+ regime.   attributes. Androulla Kaminara further said that   sector and the whole country. The industries should    progress the GIZ has been working. Earlier in     amount in social and other activities. Right now, after
 currently, there is no decision to withdraw Pakistan's   step up to remove the gap between industries and   Romina Kochius discussed that she had been   Pakistan, social responsibility was not taken   20 years, the amount of investment that has been
 The EU Ambassador, Androulla Kaminara,   GSP+ Status; however, the following report will be   Pakistan's government so that the improvements can   involved with Pakistan's textile sector for labor rights   seriously, and firms believed social responsibility was   invested in Pakistan's textile sector is enormous. We
 participated positively in this discussion and   scrutinized more strictly for that we have to work   be performed and the GSP+ regime could be   and environmental protection. Pakistan's textile   an unnecessary burden. However, with the passage   have expanded at a significant pace. Currently,
 highlighted her continuous efforts for possible   together for improvements. Pakistan has a great   renewed without any trouble. At the moment,   sector has the potential, and within the last seven   of time and awareness, the industries working with   Pakistan is not ready to lose the GSP+ Status as it
 extension in the GSP+ Status of Pakistan. Androulla   potential to tackle the challenges the country is   Pakistan is not ready to lose the GSP+ Status.   years, there have been substantial improvements. If   us sensed that social responsibility is making their   could have a devastating effect. However, it is not the
 Kaminara said that the new GSP+ regime is coming   facing. Some legislative bills have been presented in   Pakistan should explore different markets so that if   Pakistan wants to defeat poverty, sustainable options   firms even more profitable and safe. Now, the   end of the world. As Azfar Hasan said, Pakistan
 to force from Jan 2024 for the next ten years. EU   the national assembly of Pakistan; however, the EU's   the GSP+ Status is lost, the country has some   are the only options. Implementation of better   industries are putting efforts to enforce social   should start looking for more options regarding
 continuously evaluates the old regulations for   parliament will be looking for proper implementation.   backup. Srilanka has consolidated its exports, and   working conditions and international standards
 The 4th Inspiring Change Conference (ICC 2021)   The panel discussion was one of the most awaited   improvements. The old regime will end soon, and the   Only presenting the conventions at assemblies will   Pakistan should learn from them. Pakistan is   regarding sustainability increases the productivity   responsibility as their company's commitment.   exports and increasing product diversification.
 organized by TexTalks International was held   sessions by the audience, stakeholders, and textile   new draft is ready, which proposed the EU   not matter if these are not in action. The protection of   currently only negotiating and winning orders based   and profit of the compliance organizations. She   Furthermore, with these sustainable efforts, orders
 successfully on October 14, 2021, at Lahore.   industries of Pakistan. It was all about the future of   parliament and EU council having additional five   journalist bills, anti-torture bills, enforced   on competitive prices. However, there is a solid need   highlighted the potential by giving an example of a   from the EU increased significantly. Pakistan has   The role of Pakistan's textile sector in promoting
 National and International participants joined the big   Pakistan's textile exports to the EU.  conventions. Pakistan has already signed the new   disappearances, and environment are the key points   to diversify the industry from textile to other sectors.  lack of safety in Pakistan's industrial sector in 2017   shown an exemplary commitment in this regard.  sustainable practices is vital for retaining the
 day to inspire the audience with their keynote talks,   five conventions. EU is the biggest importer of   where Pakistan must work harder with urgency so   when she took some industrialists to attend a   GSP+Status. However, a few things include human
 discussion, and valuable suggestions. The   GSP has been an entrenched trade and development   Pakistan's textile exports, i.e., 30% of Pakistan's   that the next report becomes appealing so that the   Furthermore, Pakistan should also focus on value   conference in Singapore. Within four years, Pakistan   Hamid Zaman said that the EU's GSP+ conventions   rights, child labor, worker safety, worker's treatment,
 third-panel discussion featured Her Excellency   policy instrument since 1971, and Pakistan has been   products go to the EU. In general, the EU's practice   EU's parliaments vote in favor of Pakistan. Various   addition. Pakistan has adopted and significantly   presented 19 contributions in Toronto, Canada,   are in our favor regarding exports, environment, and   media rights, and sustainable practices. A quick and
 Androulla Kaminara (The European Union   the primary recipient of the GSP+ scheme for the last   is to produce a statistical report every two years for   issues require the attention of different stakeholders.   changed the way it used to work. However, if   which showed the potential of the industries. The   labor laws. The most important thing is that Pakistan   mutual response from stakeholders and government
 Ambassador to Pakistan), Azfar Hasan (CEO Matrix   seven years. There is zero percent duty on several   analysis and improvements. The report produced in   The stakeholders can deal with these issues at the   Pakistan fails to get the revised GSP+ Status, the   country's young people are creative, educated, and   retains the EU's GSP+ Status. Pakistan is working   officials is required. It was concluded that Pakistan is
 Sourcing, Pakistan), Hamid Zaman (Chairman.   products under this Status – set to expire on Dec 31,   February 2020 was a mixed report that highlighted   federal, Provisional, and industrial levels. Thus, every   biggest challenge for Pakistan is to sustain the   ready to take better opportunities.   hard to do the best practices to enforce labor laws,   working in the right direction, and its chance to retain
 APTMA North Pakistan), and Romina Kochius   2023. Under the current GSP+ system, the EU   some weak areas and some significant   part of society has to play its role in attaining the   change that we have adopted so far regarding   Pakistan is the second-largest importer of used   safety issues, and environmental issues. As the   the next GSP+ regime is fair. The discussion was
 (Project Manager TextILES, GIZ GmbH, Pakistan).   continues monitoring the progress made by the   improvements. The next report due in 2022 is crucial,   GSP+ regime.  environmental and social compliances. Other   textiles that could be recycled to produce   organizations become more prominent, they spend   worth captivating, which provided the textile sector
                                                                                                                                                                                     and stakeholders to move forward.
                                                                                                                                   the resources to better workers and the environment.
              November/December 2021                                                                                                                                                                      November/December 2021
   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73