All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) says textile manufacturers in Pakistan have received new orders from different countries after the world slowly softened lockdown imposed to contain the pandemic.

These orders are a mix of new and ones which were put on hold and got temporarily suspended after the world imposed lockdown to contain the virus. Many global buyers, who had previously placed orders on hold, have now opted to take delivery. The receipt of new export orders, much earlier than expectation may, help in booking lower export losses than the initially estimated following the outbreak of COVID-19. Pakistan’s textile industries had received additional export orders and were running over installed capacity following the outbreak of the virus in China in end of December 2019.

Around 30 per cent textile industries, including value-added ones like readymade garments – have resumed production in Pakistan after the government allowed export industries to return to work under the strategy to crate balance while dealing with economic and health crises. It is, however, difficult to estimate the value of new export orders and those for which world buyers have started taking deliveries. As Pakistan was not impacted much by the Coronavirus outbreak, these orders may help Pakistan return to work earlier than estimated timelines.