CEM Altan, President, International Apparel Federation (IAF), urges leaders in Pakistan’s textile and apparel sector to expandtheir export base by targeting emerging and high-end markets such as Russia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. He also advises them to focus onvalue-added products such as garments, fast fashion, sportswear, and medical wear, instead of low-cost textile exports.
Presenting a strategic advantage to Pakistan, political challenges in Bangladesh are impacting its garment exports, notes Altan. Pakistan can become an attractive destination for foreign direct investment by offering global fashion brands both affordability and alignment with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. Local manufacturers should adopt renewable energy sources and eco-friendly practices to cut production costs and meet international compliance requirements, Altan advises.
To enhance global competitiveness, Altan recommends digitising supply chains with advanced tools like ERP systems, blockchain for transparency, and IoT for more effective production planning. He also urges Pakistani brands to embrace e-commerce by utilising global platforms like Amazon, Alibaba, and Etsy to expand international reach.
Ijaz Khokar, Former Chairman, Pakistan Readymade Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), urges the government to create a five-year ‘Textile Destination of the World’ policy to drive export growth, innovation, human capital development, SME support, and financial access. The industry should also conduct quarterly reviews to track progress, he adds.
Exporters see significant potential in Russia, where Pakistani products could reach North American-level export values if formal banking channels are established. In addition to garments, leather goods and fashion wear could also appeal strongly to Russian consumers. In recent weeks, Pakistani exporters have seen increased orders from South Asian markets, including redirected orders from Bangladesh.
Looking forward, PRGMEA aims to host the World Fashion Convention in Pakistan again in 2026. Khokaropines, this convention could deliver extensive benefits to Pakistan’s textile sector. He urges the government and private sector to collaboratively establish research centers, textile clusters, packaging facilities, and fashion design institutes to further strengthen the country’s garment exports capacity. He also recommends launching a TEXPO Pakistan event in Dubai, inspired by the success of TEXPO, to attract regional buyers.
