Garment makers in Pakistan have criticised proposed trade concessions from the EU as “flawed,” saying they only encourage exports of textile raw materials.
Industry leaders instead want more concessions for the country’s garment industry in order to stem unemployment levels.
Khurram Mukhtar, chairman of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), has urged the government to try to convince the EU to include garment categories in the concessions.
Javed Bilwani, chairman of the Pakistan Apparel Forum (PAF), said that the package is offering little by not including value-added items such as garments.
Gohar Ejaz, chairman the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), said that the concessions will boost Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports to the EU by around US$2bn in one year. He added that Pakistan’s exports could increase by $20bn and create 20m jobs if the US grants similar market access to Pakistan in line with the EU proposal last week.
EU leaders agreed on 16 September to grant limited trade concessions of around EUR300m (US$390m) to Pakistan to help it overcome the impact of devastating floods and maintain political stability in the country.
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