Pakistan local textile industry badly affected by the surge in import of man-made fibre (MMF) yarns, including polyester, acrylic and fabric, in the domestic commerce. The import of MMF yarns has surged to 72,300 tonnes in 2014-15 against 47,700 tonnes in 2012-13. Similarly, the import of fabric made from MMF yarns has also reached to 562,000 square metres in 2014-15 against 180,000 square metres in 2012-13, according to the Acting Chairman Shahid Mazhar of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Acting Chairman Shahid Mazhar.

He stated that the competitors of Pakistan textile industry in Far East, China and India were producing MMF yarns and fabrics at comparatively lower energy cost. On the other hand, the textile industry in Pakistan is facing highest energy cost in the region.

The acting chairman said that the government has not levied 10 percent regulatory duty on the dumped and subsidised MMF yarns and fabrics in order to protect the domestic industry, adding that the local industry has first right on the domestic commerce. A limited quantity of MMF yarns and fabrics are produced for export purposes. Therefore, tariff or non-tariff measures to restrict subsidised import of MMF yarn and fabric would not hurt the production of textile goods meant for exports.

To save the textile industry from total collapse, he urged the government to announce the remaining part of the textile package without any further delay. He also urged the government to safeguard the domestic industry and save the jobs and exports of local MMF yarns and fabrics producing textile mills by imposing regulatory duty on the import of MMF yarns and fabrics immediately.