The hopes of revival of Pakistan’s ailing  textile sector was short-lived when the Pakistan cabinet on Thursday reversed a decision allowing the import of cotton and cotton yarn from India, leaving the industry players in the lurch.   

Jawed Bilwani, the chairman of the Pakistan Apparel Forum, said the decision greatly disappointed them. The proposal from the ECC allowing the imports from India was realistic and the need of the hour, he said, adding the government must give “serious considerations” to it.

The textile sector, which has been facing stiff competition from Bangladesh, has long been demanding duty-free imports of cotton from all over the world, including India, to avert big losses. 

The reversal, he said, would convey a wrong message to foreign buyers and they might start searching for options. “The government must ensure the availability of cotton yarn in the country if it doesn't want to allow its import from India,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn. 

The domestic cotton yield tanked last year by 40 percent, and if the government doesn’t permit import from the neighboring country, Bilawal said, the sector will suffer huge losses.

 Any delay in taking remedial actions would risk the permanent loss of market space for the textile industry in Pakistan, he said.