
Textile Industry of Pakistan
The textile industry of Pakistan has an overwhelming impact on the economy of the country. It is the biggest manufacturing industry in Pakistan. It covers almost 46% of the total manufacturing sector.
Importance of the textile industry
Exports are important for every country’s economy. The textile industry of Pakistan contributes over 60% of the total exports that’s is why our economy relies greatly on its textile sector. Pakistan is the 8th biggest exporter of Asia.
One of the important factors is employment opportunities. The vast population of our country is working in the textile industry of Pakistan. Factories are working and giving earning opportunities for a huge range of the population including labor to Managerial level. It employs almost 40% of the total labor force.
Textile products:
There is a vast range of clothing and textile, here are some examples of textiles products that are running and produced in Pakistan;
Garments:
Garments can further be divided into the following categories;
Denim
Denim trousers, shorts, and jackets for Adults and kids. Plus size garments
Non – denim
Non-denim pants, Shirts, and shorts for Adults and kids
Jackets
Leather jackets and hoods
Knits
Knitted articles including trousers, shirts, and jackets
Home textile:
Bathrobes
Terry products including bathrobes and towels
Bed sheets
Bed sets including bed sheets for elders and kids.
Comforter’s
Blankets, comforters, fleece sets
Curtains
Curtains and table linen including table cloths, table runners and placemats, etc.
Production process of the Textile industry of Pakistan
This is the summary of four productions steps;
Spinning
Spinning is the conversion of fibers into yarn. Good quality is very crucial here because the greige yarn will only be workable if it passes all the control checks.
Weaving
It is the art of lacing fibers together to make cloth or fabric.
Dying/printing/Finishing
This process provides color to the fabric. It improves the appearance by printing the fabric where required. Finishing is done after dying or printing to give it a particular look.
Garment manufacturing
This is the end procedure of the cycle where we convert fabric into the garment. Although in garment manufacturing there are several sub-steps including;
- Sampling
- Costing
- Fitting/measurements check
- Cutting
- Sewing
- Washing
- Finishing
- Packing
- Final inspection
- Shipping
Challenges faced by the textile industry of Pakistan
Energy Crisis
It is the main factor that is negatively affecting the growth of the textile industry of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Government should take some evolutional steps to overcome this issue to support this sector, this is very important for progress.
Inflation
Due to inflation raw materials, wages, electricity bills, etc. have increased tremendously in the last few years. Due to this, suppliers have to increase the prices of the final product which is not healthy for the competition which Pakistan has with Bangladesh, China, and India in the foreign market.
Law and order situation
Political instability and the law and order situation in Pakistan create a negative image in the foreign market. Customers sometimes feel reluctant to place orders with Pakistani suppliers because they want their products well in time in their stores with the best quality as per agreement.
List of Textile Mills:
Pakistan has some of its biggest textile mills in Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. Some of them are listed below;
Nishat Fabric mills
It is one of the biggest groups in Pakistan.
Artistic Group
Artistic is a group of companies working as artistic garments, artistic denim, artistic apparel, artistic milliners, and artistic fabric mills. All mills have their production capacities in Karachi
US denim mills
It is based in Lahore and has two main units; US apparel and US denim.
Sapphire textile mill
Sapphire is a big name in garments, home textiles, and fabrics. They export and have their stores all over the country as well.
Cresent Bahuman mills
It is located in Pindi Bhattian near Faisalabad.
Gul Ahmed textile mills
Gul Ahmad textile is in Karachi but they have stores in all major cities of Pakistan.