Textile sector presents budget proposals to finance minister

Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday met a high-level delegation representing Pakistan’s textile and apparel industry, which presented a comprehensive set of proposals for the Federal Budget 2026-27 aimed at improving the sector’s competitiveness and export performance.

According to an official statement, the delegation highlighted the textile sector’s major contribution to exports, employment generation, and foreign exchange earnings. Industry representatives stressed the need for a stable and growth-oriented policy framework to help businesses manage increasing regional competition and shifting global market conditions.

The proposals submitted to the finance minister focused on several areas, including taxation reforms, affordable energy pricing, export facilitation, industrial modernisation, liquidity management, investment promotion, and improving the ease of doing business.

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Representatives from the textile and apparel sector urged the government to introduce timely policy support measures to strengthen export competitiveness, encourage value-added manufacturing, and attract new domestic and foreign investment.

The delegation also called for faster refund mechanisms, rationalised energy tariffs, simplified compliance procedures, and improved facilitation for exporters to support industrial growth.

During the meeting, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb appreciated the sector’s active engagement with the government and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to regular consultations through the Tax Policy Office.

He also discussed the government’s ongoing efforts to improve transparency and documentation in different industries through digital monitoring systems already introduced in sectors such as sugar, cement, beverages, and tobacco, including businesses linked to the prime minister’s family.

The finance minister invited textile sector stakeholders to cooperate in implementing similar digital monitoring mechanisms within the industry.

Industry representatives acknowledged the importance of transparency and agreed to continue discussions with the government to identify practical solutions suitable for the textile sector’s operational structure.

The textile industry remains Pakistan’s largest export-oriented sector and plays a central role in the country’s economy and employment market.