Punjab Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar has assured the value-added knitwear industry of providing full support and enabling the environment to enhance exports, besides creating sustainable jobs to alleviate poverty in the country.

While talking to the delegation of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA), which met him here in the lead of its central chairman Shahzad Azam Khan, the governor expressed the hope that Pakistan will be granted extension in GSP Plus Status by the European Union for another 10 years.

The governor said during his visit to Europe, he held meetings with members of the European Parliament, adding that his meetings remained successful in all respects.

On this occasion, PHMA Central Chairman Shahzad Azam Khan appreciated the efforts of Governor Punjab for GSP Plus status to Pakistan. Besides apprising him of various federal and provincial governments related issues, he expressed his concern over the withdrawal of textile policy on misreporting from certain quarters, demanding the government to clear the reasons behind these withdrawals, as the sector is performing very well, showing the export growth of 36 percent in the last fiscal year.

He said that the government should evolve a strategy to facilitate the business community to exploit the full benefits of GSP Plus Status. He assured that the business community will fully support the government in implementing existing and new conventions. He hoped that the Governor’s recent visits to the EU countries will have good results and the lobbying by him for Pakistan will help us to secure GSP Plus Status. He said all stakeholders of the industry should be invited to make proposals for providing long-term sustainable policy initiatives. He also proposed the government set up a special task force comprising of the industry associations and concerned ministries to design and implement industry growth initiatives.

Shehzad Azam Khan said that exports play an important role in economic development. He said that the importance of the SME sector in Pakistan’s economy can be gauged from the fact that this sector accounts for 40% of the GDP. This sector also needs the support of the government to benefit from GSP Plus.