LAHORE: Gohar Ejaz group has registered an unprecedented 12th consecutive victory in the annual elections for the year 2021-22 of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) by winning all seats both at centre as well as zonal levels.
Election results for the year 2021-22 were announced in a press conference held at APTMA Punjab office on August 26, 2021. According to the results announced by Muhammad Raza Baqir, Secretary General APTMA, Mr. Hamid Zaman has been elected unopposed as Chairman Northern Zone, followed by Mr. Kamran Arshad as Senior Vice Chairman, Mr. Khawaja Mouhammad Anees as Vice Chairman and Mr. Asad Shafi as Treasurer. In the Zonal Management Committee Mr. Abdullah Amir Fazal, Mr. Ahmad Bin Shahid, Mr. Basit Mansoor Azhar, Mr. Danish Aslam, Mr. Ismail Farid Sheikh, Mr. Muhammad Haseeb, Mr. Muhammad Siddique and Khawaja Muhammad Mohsin Masood have been elected as Members for a term of two years.
In the Executive Committee of APTMA Pakistan, Mr. Abdul Rahim Nasir, Mr. Ahmad Shafi, Mr. Bilal Sharif, Mr. Hussain Ahmad Fazal, Mr. Irfan Ahmed, Mr. Syed Omar Shah and Mr. Aamir Sheikh have been elected as members from the North Zone and Mr. Asif Inam, Mr. Tariq Saud, Mr. Moazzam Ajaz Saya, Mr. Muhammad Yasin Siddik and Mr. Afzal Umer have been elected from the South. Central Executive Committee will meet in mid September to elect Office Bearers for the year 2021-22.
Addressing the press conference, Mr. Gohar Ejaz, Patron-in-Chief APTMA, announced nomination of Mr. Abdul Rahim Nasir for the office of Central Chairman APTMA. He congratulated the newly-elected leadership of APTMA and expressed the hope that the new young and energetic leadership would work hard to strengthen the export potential of textile industry.
On this occasion, he also dilated upon the strengths of the textile industry in the country, especially despite confronting the successive waves of Covid-19.
According to him, the textile exports have registered an impressive growth of 23 per cent, to $15.4 billion in fiscal year 2020-21. He said a drop in the COVID-19 cases in Pakistan and the policy of smart lockdown helped in revival of textile industry and boosting up export figures. He hoped that exports would record impressive growth this year due to pro-industry approach of the government and ease in doing business.
Gohar continued that the industry would never disappoint the government in its efforts of enhancing exports by meeting the textile export target of $20 billion for the current fiscal year and earning precious foreign exchange for the country, creating jobs and attracting new investment in the sector.
He said that textile industry was waiting for the final approval of a new five-year textile policy to facilitate setting up of another 100 textile mills and doubling the country’s exports.
He said the industry was planning to invest in the downstream to increase exports of the country and expand employment opportunities.
Gohar further stated that it was highly encouraging that about 70% of textile exports from Pakistan were from value added sector. He hoped that the expected investment of $3 billion in value added segments of textile industry would fetch an additional export earnings of about $6 billion and three million additional jobs.
He appreciated the government for supporting the industry during the spread of COVID-19 and speedy payment of sales tax refunds through the Federal Board of Revenue.
He also lauded the role of State Bank of Pakistan for extending financial support to the industry in an extraordinary situation that helped the industry to regain strength.
Gohar has also appreciated the government for continuation of Regionally Competitive Energy Tariff of electricity at 9 cents per kWh and gas at $6.5 per MMBTU during the fiscal year 2021-22. He expressed confidence that with incessant availability of energy and raw materials at regionally competitive rates, industry would put its best to achieve the lofty target of exports for the current year.
Mr. Abdul Rahim Nasir speaking on the occasion presented a blue print of his vision for upsurging exports and thanked the leadership for showing their confidence towards him and other elected members. He also assured members of the Association to put his best to protect the economic interests of the country in general and textile industry in particular.
