Pakistan’s textile exports are projected to reach $16.64 billion by the end of the current fiscal year which is a one percent increase from the $16.51 billion in exports registered in FY23. However compared with $19.32 billion exports in FY22 it would be a 14 percent decrease
Textile players say that the non-availability of the Regionally Competitive Energy Tariff (RCET) has resulted in a colossal loss of $2.68 billion to the country. The commerce ministry is concerned that textile exports will not meet expectations by June 30, the end of FY24. In FY22, the sector enjoyed a power tariff of nine cents per unit and a gas tariff of $7.5 per MMBTU, which led to a significant growth in textile exports to $19.32 billion. However, the withdrawal of RCET has resulted in a projected decline in textile exports. This has led to the closure of 40-50 percent of basic textile units in the country, causing unemployment and a decline in exports. The Ministry of Commerce has written to the Power Division requesting the restoration of RCET to boost exports and encourage international buyers to expand their sourcing from Pakistan.
The letter highlights that the industrial sector is currently providing a cross-subsidy of Rs222 billion in the power sector and Rs100 billion in the gas sector to domestic consumers. If this cross-subsidy is withdrawn, the energy tariff for the industrial sector will become competitive with regional economies like India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, making Pakistan’s export products more competitive in the international market.
