LAHORE: There has been very little investment in the value added textile sector as compared to other sectors of textile industry during last five years, although the value added textile exports registered 61 percent increase in this period, official data reveals.
Both the knitwear and garments sectors fetched only five percent of $5 billion investment from 1999-00 to 2004-05, according to data released by an official agency.
According to the data the spinning and fibre sector attracted 46 percent of the $5 billion investment, weaving 24 percent, textile processing 12 percent and made-ups eight percent. The synthetic textile sector drew 5 percent of the total investment.
The advisor to the prime minister on finance Dr Salman Shah had said during his recent visit to All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) that it was hard to find any big name in the value-added sector of Pakistan.
?ou tell me how many big players are active in the value-added sector of Pakistan,?he said, adding: ?he sector does not own even a single brand being recognised internationally.?BR>
The knitwear sector has registered a decline of some 18 percent mainly due to the increase in mark up rates in the recent past. The government has also offered a Research & Development Fund of 6 percent to the sector, but still the sector has failed to perform.
