November 30, 2020: Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal has suspended audit notices issued by Social Security Department due to the current Covid 19 pandemic. He announced this in a meeting with a delegation of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) headed by its Central Chairman Mr. Adil Bashir and including Mr. Abdul Rahim Nasir Chairman APTMA Northern Zone, Mr. Mohammad Raza Baqir, Executive Director, APTMA.
Mian Mohammad Aslam Iqbal assured APTMA delegation of all out support by the Provincial Government in smooth functioning of all industrial units for an increase in exports. He has requested APTMA member mills to ensure a compliance of all prescribed SOPs to fight effectively against the second wave of Covid 19.
Mian Mohammad Aslam Iqbal further said that the government has pinned high hopes on the export-oriented sector for increase in exports, creation of jobs and new investment in the country. He said that development work on the establishment of industrial zones is being done on priority basis and is expected to be completed during the first half of the year 2021. He added that all said zones would serve as industrial hubs equipped with all basic infrastructure and state of the art facilities. He urged the industry to step forward and start planning to set up industrial units at the earliest to contribute towards industrialization of the country and accelerating the pace of economic development. He further stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Khan Buzdar both the Federal and Provincial Governments are keen to uplift the industrial activities and the pace of progress is being monitored closely by the leaderships at the highest level.
Responding to the demand of APTMA for waiver of Provincial excise duty on electricity bills to keep the exports free from all domestic duties and taxes, he assured APTMA of the fullest cooperation and asked them to send a working paper to him on this issue for serious consideration by the Provincial Government.
On the question of collecting water charges even on the standby turbine, the Minister issued directions that water charges would only be collected in respect of the turbine actually used for water pumping and the standby turbine would not be charged.
Mr Mohammad Aslam Iqbal also nominated Mr. Asif Farrukh, Additional Secretary Department of Industries as focal person for resolving day to day issues, if arisen in future.
Mr. Adil Bashir, Chairman APTMA thanked the Honorable Minister in particular and the Provincial and Federal Governments in general for their bold initiatives in resolving the issues faced by the industrialists and hoped that with the continued support of the Government, the whole textile sector would make all out efforts to promote further investment in textile sector. He also apprised the Minister with the salient features of new Textile Policy and vowed the commitment to uplift industrial activities and exports from the country.
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