The value added textile sector has opposed a proposal to abolish the ministry of textiles and merge it with the ministry of commerce.

In a letter to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, the value added textile sector mentioned that the ministry of textile was established on the demand of the value added textile export sector and that its establishment boosted textile exports. The letter conceded that there were problems later as the policy was not implemented.

Javed Bilwani of Value Added Textile Sector said that textile sector is the backbone of the country’s economy, accounting for 50 percent of total exports and generating 42 percent of total employment.

"We are confident that under your revolutionary and magnanimous PML-N government, the textiles with the right minister and capable secretaries will flourish and so will our exports,” said the letter. “We are also confident that if the Ministry of Textile Industry runs successfully, our exports can increase up to $50 billion. Moreover the load on the commerce ministry will decrease and it can pay attention to other sectors,” it added. Significantly, Bilwani said that in India, a ministry of textiles governs the cotton and jute industry, wool and woolen sector, manmade fiber, filament yarn, technical textiles, clothing and textile exports, textiles, research and development.

Similarly, Bangladesh also has a ministry of textiles and the country’s textile exports make up 83 percent of its total exports.

"Although Indian textile exports stand at 8.92 percent, they still have a vibrant ministry of textiles. Ironically, in case of Pakistan, whose textile exports are 52.27 percent of the country’s total exports, the existing ministry of textile industry is going to be abolished,” he said.