Replying to a question, Cheema said that Pakistan was not included in GSP plus scheme of the European Union (EU), however, the government was lobbying at all levels for inclusion in the scheme.
Answering another question, the minister said the EU team was expected to arrive in Islamabad to verify anti-dumping complaints on bed-linen, adding that the decision of the European Commission regarding anti-dumping was made on bad intention during the visit of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Cheema also said the government would appoint permanent negotiators familiar with international laws in the EU and the US, and these consultants (persons or firms) would deal with anti-dumping complaints (calls).
He said the prime minister constituted two inter-ministerial committees under his chairmanship to incorporate changes in labour laws and ginning-related issues, adding that the committees would finalise recommendations within one and half months.
The minister said the committee comprising Labour Manpower and Oversees Pakistanis Minister, Commerce Minister, and he himself would fix wages per hour and determine minimum wages for the labour rather than monthly salary which, according to him, would be beneficial not only to the industry but to workers too.
The committee may also increase working hours for the labour, the minister said, adding that if workers in US could continue work for eight hours or more why not in Pakistan.
Cheema criticised the previous administrations which, according to him, did nothing to bring improvement in the textile sector.
"I have personally seen the recorded minutes of previous meetings of the Federal Textile Boards which similar last year", he said, adding that when there was no change in minutes what actions would be taken to bring improvement in the textile sector.
He said when the decisions become part of files, which were shelved, adding that he would work for implementation of the decisions.
An official told Business Recorder that the textile minister spoke against the previous ministers, who, according to him, deliberately ignored the country's textile sector.
He said that 0.3 million workers would be properly trained through vocational training programme in the textile sector, and quoted the prime minister as saying. He said the textile sector should also launch training programmes to meet the demand for skilled workers in the industry.
Replying to a question, he said the government was expecting 15 million bales of cotton this year, of which, 12 million would be consumed domestically. Some part of the remaining cotton would be kept as buffer stock while the rest would be exported.
He, however, was of the view that due to 40 percent increase in yield this year, farmers were facing problems in picking of cotton.
Talking about contamination in cotton, Cheema said the prime minister has directed Industries and Production Minister Jahangir Tareen to ban usage of white bags for packing of urea.
He said the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) would also be restructured and deal with non-tariff barriers and other issues.
The minister was of the view that Pakistan's ginning was worse in the world as it involves 15 to 17 percent contamination which means the procurer get 83 to 85 percent yield.
Replying to a question, Cheema said the meeting decided that attention should be given on quick delivery of goods for which efforts would be made on efficient transportation system, adding that the government would make efforts to start special train service from Sialkot, Faisalabad and Lahore.
The minister also said that the Federal Textile Board would also be reconstituted.
According to a press release issued by the PM secretariat, the prime minister said the cost of doing business was competitive, but there was a need to improve supply and logistic chain.