The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed the Pakistani manufacturers to penetrate aggressively in the global synthetics products market which has long surpassed the cotton market. Though starting late, Pakistan’s exporters can still sail through if allowed to access essential raw materials at competitive prices.

According to the Central Bank, the local industry would benefit and tariff-based policy measures to enhance the use of man-made fibers in domestic textile industry will become effective, only if the influx of smuggled goods is contained.

Pakistan’s textile industry is advancing into synthetics at a snail’s pace. The fiber mix still stands at 80:20 in its garment exports with only 25 percent of Pakistan’s spinning machines currently using MMF to produce blended yarn. Moreover, the country’s share in MMF apparel market is almost negligible.

This implies that with adequate availability of raw materials in the country, Pakistan too could have excelled in global synthetic textiles market. However, domestic policies and market conditions have hindered the country’s foray into this emerging market.