Pakistan Jute industry has 14 composite mills with total capacity of 120000 tons.
Demand is sluggish as cement, sugar and flour mills have changed over to poly-packings.
Chairman of Pakistan Jute Mills Association, Humayun Mazhar informed that jute goods exports were just about Rs 8 crore three years ago, with a likelihood to reach Rs 100 crore this year, which is a positive indication.
The export market is currently confined to Egypt, Syria, Sudan and Iran with a proposal to export jute products to India, especially sackings.
Suggestion to remove jute goods from negative list in Indo-Pak trade has been taken up at Government level, Mazhar added.
Pakistan depends on fibre imported from Bangladesh and Myanmar and is interested in reviving import of raw jute from India.
The Food and Agricultural Organisation, (FAO) has forwarded recommendations to the United Nations to declare 2009 as year of natural fibre to encourage eco-friendly products.
marketing@alchempro.com
