The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association has urged the government to bring the import duty on polyester staple fibre down to zero. According to a press release, association’s acting chairman Wisal Monnoo stated that imports of all kind of specialty fibres including acrylic should be allowed at zero per cent import duty helping the industry to widen its product base.

Currently, 6 per cent customs duty and import incidental together with local PSF manufacturers’ margin make PSF available at around 20 per cent price differential.

Monnoo further stated that imports of viscose staple fibre, which is not manufactured domestically, should also be allowed at zero per cent customs duty.

Pakistan’s textile industry is unable to compete in man-made fibre textile and clothing products owing to the protection extended to local PSF. The textile industry is predominately cotton based with an odd fibre mix. For example, 80 per cent cotton and 20 per cent MMF is used as against the global ratio of 70 per cent MMF and 30 per cent cotton. This is an impediment for the textile industry to diversify its products and markets.

Monnoo added that the textile industry is unable to produce exportable surplus, particular MMF-based textiles, to take advantage of enormous opportunities under GSP+ of export of synthetic based textile products.