Sizing units are on strike in Pakistan. This has affected the entire textile chain and in particular the operations of bleaching, dying and printing units. The downward industry including power looms has started closing as there is no arrangement to process the grey cloth. The printing, dying and bleaching industry is not getting sufficient cloth to feed their units.

Sizing owners have been on strike against sales tax laws. They say the 17 per cent sales tax on starch used by them has eroded their profitability. It’s feared this protest will affect exports and deprive Pakistan of much needed foreign exchange.

Sizing is a process that adds strength and smoothing coating to the thread before it is woven into fabric. Desizing is done to remove the sizes that have been attached to the yarns during the weaving process. Different methods for desizing are enzymatic desizing, oxidative desizing, acid steeping, rot steeping desizing with hot caustic soda treatment and hot washing with detergent.

There are two types of sizing agents. There are natural sizing agents like starch and its derivatives, cellulose and its derivatives and protein based sizing agents. And there are synthetic sizing agents like poly acrylates, modified polyesters, polyvinyl alcohol-based styrol acid co-polymers.