ISLAMABAD: In a key proposal ahead of the federal budget, the Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) has urged the government to reinstate the original structure of the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS), calling it essential for restoring export competitiveness, removing bottlenecks, and creating a predictable policy environment for exporters.
The proposal, part of PTC’s comprehensive budget recommendations for FY2025–26, comes after extensive consultations with textile and apparel exporters nationwide. The Council emphasized that reviving the original EFS framework, while implementing strict anti-leakage safeguards, would significantly enhance the performance of Pakistan’s value-added textile sector.
“We fully support the government’s direction to enhance exports through value-added textile and apparel manufacturing,” said Mr. Fawad Anwar, Chairman of the PTC. “Reinstating the original EFS structure is essential to provide a stable and facilitative policy framework for exporters.”
PTC commended Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for his consistent commitment to fiscal discipline and strategic stakeholder engagement, which the Council said has helped build a foundation for economic reform and industrial revival.
The Council also expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for making export-led growth a central pillar of Pakistan’s economic strategy, and for Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s leadership of the Prime Minister’s Committee on the Export Facilitation Scheme. PTC acknowledged that under his guidance, consensus is building around restoring the original EFS structure, with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) already proposing necessary amendments to control misuse and leakage.
While aligning with the government’s broader goals of increasing exports and generating employment, PTC identified high energy costs and excessive taxation as critical challenges undermining Pakistan’s textile competitiveness. The Council urged the government to address these issues in the upcoming budget.
“Addressing energy price distortions and rationalizing the tax burden are crucial to achieving the goals of the government’s URAAN Pakistan Plan,” said Mr. Anwar. “We urge policymakers to work in close consultation with the industry to resolve these challenges and restore Pakistan’s export momentum.”
PTC reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the government to advance a growth-oriented, export-driven policy framework aligned with national development goals and global competitiveness.
