MULTAN, May 3rd: All Pakistan Bedsheet & Upholstry Manufacturers Association (APBUMA) Chairman Syed Muhammad Ahsan Shah, President of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) Sheikh Fazal Elahi and The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) South Punjab Convener M. Anees Khawaja have thanked Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar for reopening the textile industry value chain in the larger interest of the country’s exports and much-needed employment in these testing times. In their statements they assured that the textile industry would follow all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in letter and spirit. They have already adopted all precautionary measures at mills during the processing of the orders on the floor by providing masks, sanitizers and other PPE to labour besides observing complete cleanliness.They said it is a matter of great satisfaction that the Covid-19 situation is much better in Pakistan as compared to the US and Europe due to timely steps taken by the government. He said the number of confirmed cases is 19,854 while the number of deaths is 447 today, which is far better than the developed world.They said the prime minister has also been pointing out since day one that Pakistan’s economy cannot afford to keep people out of job for long. Therefore, employment generation is very essential while dealing with the pandemic, he said and added that the APTMA delegation had requested to the Chief Minister Punjab for reopening of the complete textile value chain to keep the employment opportunities intact.M.Anees Khawaja said this is the time to look for the survival options and the Punjab government’s decision of reopening would be helpful in this regard. Syed Muhammad Ahsan Shah said the textile value chain appreciated the Punjab government for realising the importance of the textile industry in terms of employment generation and its contribution to the country’s exports and domestic demand.MCCI President Sheikh Fazal Elahi said
the textile industry contributes to 60 per cent of the country’s exports and it has already proven that precautionary measures have been fully observed during the permission granted by the government to process the semi-finished orders. They have also appreciated the efforts and the positive role played by the Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Aslam Iqbal regarding the reopening of the textile sector in the province.
