Dr. Gohar Ejaz Group has swept All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Annual Elections of 2022-23 for the 14th consecutive year.
In a press conference at APTMA Office, Lahore Chaired by Patron-in-Chief APTMA, Dr. Gohar Ejaz & Secretary General Punjab, Mr. Raza Baqir announced the election results – declaring that Mr. Rehman Naseem, Mr. Zahid Rasheed Khawaja, Mr. Syed Ali Ahsan, Mr. S.M. Tanveer, Mr. Hamid Zaman, Mr. Shaiq Jawed, Mr. Muhammad Anees Khawaja, Mr. Asad Shafi, Mr. Amanullah Kassim, Mr. Imran Maqbool, Mr. Muhammad Junaid, Mr. Naveed Ahmed, Mr. Zahid Mazhar & Mr. Zohair Dilawar Agha have been elected unopposed as members of the Central Executive Committee of APTMA.
Secretary General Punjab, Mr. Raza Baqir announced the results of the Zonal elections, declaring Mr. Hamid Zaman as the elected Chairman, Mr. Kamran Arshad as Senior Vice Chairman, Mr. Kh Muhammad Anees as Vice Chairman, Mr. Asad Shafi as Treasurer whereas Mr. Haroon Shahzada Ellahi Shaikh, Omar Latif Chaudhry, Umair Abid, S. M. Nabeel, Muhammad Ali Ch, Ahsan Shahid Waraich, Shahroze Ahmad, Haroon Shahid & Sufyan Akhtar have been elected as members of the Zonal Managing Committee.
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Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Gohar Ejaz congratulated his group members for securing an unprecedented 14th consecutive victory in the annual elections of APTMA both at the Center and Zonal levels.
He felicitated the newly elected members of Central and Zonal Managing Committees & the office bearers of the Northern Zone on their election. He hoped that the newly elected leadership would work hard to strengthen the export potential of the textile industry.
Initiatives for boosting Pakistan’s economy
Dr. Ejaz emphasized the fact that textile exports of the country were stagnant at $12-13 billion till 2018-19 owing to multiple issues especially energy tariffs and non-availability of energy for the textile industry. He apprised that consequent to hectic efforts made by his Group; The Regionally Competitive Energy Tariffs were approved by the Government for export-oriented sectors both for electricity & gas.
He further said that energy tariffs cost not more than 2.67% of the total exports of the country but contributed to expanding textile exports to $19.33 billion during 2021-22 registering growth of 26% over the preceding year & over 54% in a short span of three years.
Dr. Ejaz added that a new investment of $5 billion has been made in the textile sector which has now the potential to give exponential growth to textile exports provided business-friendly environments are continued to be extended to textile and other export-oriented sectors.
With the view to fostering exports and boosting the economy of the country, Dr. Ejaz unveiled his vision for the future economy and announced the launching of a road to $50 billion in exports by moving to the stitching sector and conversion of $3 billion yarn and fabrics of the country into value-added garments for exports fetching addition export of $10 billion.
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Dr. Ejaz also announced establishing Garment Training Center under the auspices of APTMA to train manpower for employment in the vast expanding garment sector. He said that extending soft-term loans of Rs.250-300 million to train men & women would inflate exports to more than $50 billion in less than five years leaving no requirement for borrowing loans from foreign donors.
Dr. Ejaz also announced establishing the Pakistan Economic Forum consisting of professional exporters from all fields of the economy to analyze the economic woes of the country & to prepare a blueprint for economic revival & development of an economic vision for the next ten years.
APTMA donates big to govt’s flood relief fund
Dr. Ejaz reiterated that sustainable export-led economic growth is imperative for the development of the country in order to create additional jobs in the country and to earn more foreign exchange for economic stability in the country. He was also hopeful about a better cotton crop this year despite heavy rains & floods in the country. He said that offering global cotton prices to local farmers has grossly helped in enhancing cotton production.
Dr. Ejaz expressed his sympathy for the flood-stricken people and announced a contribution of Rs.250 million on behalf of APTMA to the Flood Relief Fund of the Federal Government and vowed to support the country in this time of need.
Read more: Pakistan to see over 20% growth in exports: APTMA
Patron-in-Chief, Dr. Ejaz was highly appreciative of the outgoing APTMA leadership for leading the industry in critical times, especially during covid pandemic, and fiscal and energy constraints. He hoped that the incoming elected office bearers and members of Managing Committees would accelerate their efforts in promoting textile exports of the country and for the economic uplifting of Pakistan.
Outgoing Chairman Mr. Abdul Rahim Nasir thanked Dr. Gohar Ejaz for all his support, vision, and guidance to put the textile sector on right track. He also thanked all APTMA members for their continued support during his Chairmanship.