Roadmap in the offing to revive sick units

The commerce ministry announced on Wednesday that it would soon unveil a comprehensive plan to revive the closed textile industries within 30 days and expedite the payment of Rs323 billion in refunds to exporters. The ministry said it would present the plan and the roadmap within a month, after consulting with the stakeholders. As part of the plan, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will release Rs35bn to exporters on Monday, Patron-in-Chief Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, Khurram Mukhtiyar said. Mr Mukhtiyar was speaking to Dawn after a meeting with Caretaker Commerce Minister Gohar Ijaz, who had assured him of a relief package and a refund roadmap for the textile sector. The minister assured the textile and clothing sector that they would receive Rs23bn pending subsidy amount within a month. He also said that the ministry would provide a roadmap for clearing Rs300bon in sales tax refunds that were pending with the FBR.