Pakistan is mostly exporting low value added textile products while the global consumers prefer high value added products due to which share of our textile exports has come down from 65 percent to about 50 percent. Therefore, it is the need of the hour that government should encourage private sector through different incentives for producing value added textile products to improve exports.

These views were expressed by Zahid Maqbool, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry while talking to a group of textile sector businessmen at ICCI. He said Pakistan can easily get out of the current problems of de-industrialization and low growth by focusing on the export of value added textile products. 

The businessmen said that the apparel industry in Pakistan is the most promising area for value addition and employment generation in the textile sector as there is a rising demand for value added fashion garments and fabrics.

They stressed that government should come forward to support this industry by addressing all those problems including energy crisis that are negatively impacting its growth so that textile sector could improve quality its products, upgrade technology and move up the value chain for greater penetration in the export market. 

They said in order to become a global player, government should facilitate textile industry for the promotion of high quality value added products, especially in getting a niche in fabrics and new designs.

Zahid Maqbool said that for improving dwindling textile exports, greater participation of foreign investors and joint ventures together with an aggressive marketing of textile products are pre-requisite measures.

He said the image of the country as a supplier of quality products should be promoted through regular participation in international product exhibitions and trade fairs. This would immensely help putting Pakistan on the global radar screen as an important country of fashion garments and made-ups, he added.