Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, held a meeting with top textile and apparel exporters and industry representatives today, led by Mr. Haroon Sharif, Chairman of the Pakistan Regional Economic Forum. The discussion focused on strategies to enhance export competitiveness, attract investment, and support industrial expansion.
Senator Aurangzeb stressed that export-oriented sectors are vital for Pakistan’s economic revival. He highlighted the need to improve productivity, foster innovation, and enhance the global competitiveness of key industries to increase exports, generate employment, and sustain long-term growth.
The Finance Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to actively engage with industry stakeholders, ensuring economic policies align with business needs while promoting sustainable development. He noted ongoing efforts to refine policy frameworks to encourage investment, remove procedural hurdles, and facilitate reinvestment by established exporters, all while maintaining fiscal discipline.
Emphasizing the importance of modernization and technological upgrades, Senator Aurangzeb urged industry leaders to adopt innovative solutions, expand into high-value markets, and leverage opportunities in global supply chains. He underscored that creating a favorable business environment through improved policy coordination, regulatory facilitation, and investment promotion remains a key priority.
The delegation shared initiatives aimed at promoting joint ventures, attracting foreign investment, and strengthening technology collaboration in priority industrial sectors. Industry representatives stressed the need for policies that support value-added textiles, which account for a major share of Pakistan’s exports, and highlighted the importance of streamlined taxation and regulatory systems to facilitate business growth and reinvestment.
Business leaders also emphasized reviewing labor costs and regulatory levies to ensure Pakistani industries remain competitive internationally, supporting increased production, employment, and export growth.
Senator Aurangzeb appreciated the constructive proposals and assured the delegation that many of the issues raised are already being addressed under the government’s ongoing economic reform agenda.
The meeting included Mr. Javed Bilwani, Chairman of the Pakistan Apparel Forum; Mr. Khurram Mukhtar, Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association; Mr. Khalid Mansoor, Director of the Pakistan Regional Economic Forum and former SAPM on CPEC Affairs; Mr. Siddique Bhatti, CEO of US Apparel; Mr. Shahzad Asghar Ali, CEO of Style Textile; and Mr. Javed Akhtar, CSO of Style Textile, alongside senior Ministry of Finance officials.
