SCCI President hails govt decision of exporting PPEs

SIALKOT: Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Muhammad Ashraf Malik has appreciated the government’s decision for approval to exporting all Textiles and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  items.

Ashraf Malik in a statement said on Sunday that incentive schemes for exporters were vital to keeping the industry competitive in the international market especially considering the peculiar situation of the economy amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

The SCCI president stressed that the rate of drawback vides SRO 711(I)/2018 (Non-Textile) and Order No. 1 (42-B)TID/18-TR-II (Textile) should be enhanced to 7 percent to achieve the said targets of export.

Ashraf was of the view that the plague has opened new avenues of trade for exporters including the manufacturing and export of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

He said Safety products like PPE including protective masks, gloves, sanitizer, clothing, helmets, goggles, and other garments or more innovative equipment designed for protection from COVID-19 pandemic will be exported.

Malik further said such objects would have a huge opportunity for the local exporter to achieve their targets for maximum benefits from opportunity after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The government should also consider giving incentive to the PPE exporters to encourage them in gaining maximum market share,” Ashraf added.

It was the right time for Pakistan to gear up for proving its mettle in the Personal Protective Equipment Industry as its market size was expected to grow to US$ 87.67 billion by 2027, he added.

Ashraf Malik also stressed that facilities by the federal government to give the exporters with special electricity and LNG rates at US Cents 7.5 per kWh and USD 6.5 per MMBTU should be continued for at least 2 -years.

The incentive in energy inputs would allow the exporters to fight against international market pressures by the competition, he added.