The Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) has urged the Ministry of Commerce to ensure representation of the apparel sector in the Export Advisory Council of Textiles, being the largest export in the entire textile value chain.
The PHMA Central Chairman Nahid Abbas, in a letter written to the federal Minister for Commerce Dr. Gohar Ejaz, has drawn his attention towards the formation of the new Export Advisory Council but unfortunately it has no representation of the PHMA despite the fact the Association is the premier trade organization, representing the hosiery and knitwear industry, accelerating and providing growth in all sectors of the economy, generating immense employment and promoting national self-reliance.
PHMA North Zone Chairman Farrukh Iqbal stated that the federal minister personally knows that in spite of all the difficulties the knitwear sector has been performing better than all other export sectors and the potential for its further growth is tremendous. If due support is extended this sector can outperform to bring the country out of all kinds of crises, besides earning foreign exchange and providing mass employment in the country.
He said PHMA has due regard for nomination of some respectable personalities on the Council, but ignoring and neglecting the extremely important Small and Medium components of the industry and the sector as a whole, is totally unacceptable.
The PHMA leaders reminded the planners that the sector has been a major taxpayer, the largest employment generator in the entire textile chain and earning billions of dollars foreign exchange through exports goods.
