LAHORE
\nFederal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, and Federal Minister for Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, have pledged to raise the critical concerns of exporters at the highest levels of government.
\nSpeaking at a high-level Exporters\u2019 Convention hosted by the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) in Sialkot, both ministers assured the industry of their unwavering support. The event was attended by representatives from PHMA, PSGMEA, PGMEA, PSIMA, PLGMEA, and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
\nProf. Ahsan Iqbal acknowledged that Pakistan\u2019s exports, which currently stand at around $32 billion, are lagging behind regional competitors like Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam.
\n\u201cWe need a unified, export-led growth strategy. Cities like Sialkot\u2014with their entrepreneurial spirit and globally recognized products\u2014must take the lead,\u201d he said. He emphasized that economic revival hinges on building a stable, business-friendly environment and reducing the cost of doing business to restore Pakistan\u2019s competitive edge.
\nKhawaja Muhammad Asif reaffirmed that the concerns of Sialkot\u2019s exporters would be prioritized. He noted that abrupt policy changes and increasing tax burdens are harming productivity.
\n\u201cSialkot\u2019s SMEs form the backbone of Pakistan\u2019s export economy. We will not allow them to collapse under bureaucratic pressure,\u201d he said. He also assured that refund claims and other tax-related issues would be addressed at the highest level to create a stable and supportive environment for exporters.
\nIjaz A. Khokhar, former Central Chairman of PRGMEA, voiced serious concern over the recent amendments to the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS), especially regarding temporary imports for re-export.
\nHe warned that reduced utilization periods and new bank guarantee requirements will disproportionately affect SMEs, which already operate on tight margins. \u201cSuch policy shifts jeopardize not only our competitiveness but the very foundation of Pakistan\u2019s export engine,\u201d he stressed.
\nAdding to this, Mr. Ansar Aziz, Executive Member of PRGMEA, highlighted the urgent need for targeted SME support mechanisms and low-cost financing to help exporters navigate mounting economic pressures. \u201cOur SMEs are the lifeblood of innovation and job creation. Without tangible support, we risk losing this backbone,\u201d he said.
\nSohail A. Sheikh, also a former PRGMEA Chairman, criticized the sudden shift from the Final Tax Regime (FTR) to the Normal Tax Regime (NTR). He said the new model introduces unpredictability in tax liabilities and increases compliance burdens. \u201cThis transition was implemented without stakeholder consultation. It has shaken industry confidence and harmed planning and cash flow certainty,\u201d he noted.
\nBoth PRGMEA leaders expressed alarm over the newly imposed 29% reciprocal U.S. tariffs on Pakistani exports.
\nThey reported growing buyer hesitancy, delayed shipments, and increasing order cancellations\u2014diverting business to regional rivals like Bangladesh and Vietnam. \u201cRestoring buyer confidence in the U.S. is essential,\u201d said Sheikh.
\n\u201cWe urge the government to send a trade delegation to Washington D.C. to engage directly with U.S. officials and negotiate tariff exemptions for low-volume countries like Pakistan.This could serve as a strategic opportunity to convert current challenges into a pathway for enhancing Pakistan\u2019s export growth and global trade presence\u201d
\nThe PRGMEA also demanded fast-track clearance of stuck shipments, duty drawbacks, and the establishment of an Export Development Bank to provide affordable credit to SMEs.
\nMr. Ijaz A. Khokhar and Mr. Soahil A. Sheikh emphasized that achieving cost competitiveness and ease of doing business is crucial to securing Pakistan\u2019s export future. They called for long-term policy consistency and alignment with Prime Minister\u2019s Uraan Pakistan Vision, which aims to double exports and position Pakistan as a globally competitive manufacturing hub.
\nIn a powerful display of unity, PRGMEA, PHMA, PSGMEA, PGMEA, PSIMA, PLGMEA, and SCCI jointly appealed for immediate policy support to stabilize the export sector and empower SMEs. \u201cIf we want to see sustainable, inclusive growth\u2014exporters must be heard, and their concerns acted upon,\u201d concluded Ijaz A. Khokhar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, and Federal Minister for Defence, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, have pledged to raise the critical concerns of exporters at the highest levels of government. Speaking at a high-level Exporters\u2019 Convention hosted by the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) in Sialkot, both …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":80120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80106"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80121,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80106\/revisions\/80121"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nabanews.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}