Surat hub stops fabric export to Pak

Exporters from India’s largest man-made fabric (MMF) hub in Surat have stopped exports of fabrics to Pakistan in the aftermath of dastardly attack by a terrorist of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on a CRPF convoy in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pulwama district a few days ago. Over 40 CRPF personnel were martyred in the attack by the terrorist of the Pakistan-based organisation.

Two biggest fabric markets in Pakistan—Azam cloth market in Lahore and Lucknow market in Karachi—depend on polyester fabrics, saris, lehengas and dupattas imported from Surat. Many shops in these markets have signboards that say they sell saris and dress material imported from Surat.

Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (SGCCI) textile committee chairman Devkishan Manghani, said, “A delegation from Surat had visited Azam and Lucknow markets in Karachi and Lahore last year. Majority of traders import cheap saris, lehengas and other fabrics from Surat and sell them after value addition. Small traders, there will be finished if our exporters don’t supply raw material to them.”