It cautioned that the levy could significantly increase export costs and create new hurdles for the apparel industry. PHMA North Zone Chairman Abdul Hameed said the association had formally conveyed concerns of apparel exporters to the chief minister, highlighting that the proposed cess on goods entering or leaving Punjab had already created serious anxiety among business circles. In such circumstances, imposing an additional cess will inevitably increase the cost of doing business and make it more difficult for exporters to compete globally. Former PHMA North chief Naseer Butt explained that apparel exporters operated on thin margins because international prices were largely determined by global buyers and intense competition. He added that the proposed cess would not only impact exports but could also have wider economic consequences for the domestic trade and consumers.
