Pakistan has dynamic, vigorous and export oriented textile industry that has anoverwhelming impact on economy. Textile being largest industrial sectorgenerates the country's highest export earnings; providing the bulk ofemployment (nearly 39%) to largely under utilized workforce, and contributesnearly 8.5% to GDP. [2]


Pakistan is the 4th biggest cotton producer in the world. 9 millionbales of cotton were produced in year 2008, which accounts just under 8% of thetotal world's production.[4] In addition to that, Pakistan has 1221ginning factories, 445 spinning mills, nearly 550 weaving units, over 700textile processing units and 5000 garment units. [2]


During the year 2007-08 the export of textile group werejust over 55% of the total exports of Pakistan. [1] History shows a continuous increasing trend in the export oftextile group. (Fig. 1)


Figure 1: Total Exports Vs Textile groupexports


Textile group has enjoyed more than half of the totalexports of Pakistan from last many years. (Fig. 2)


Figure 2: % Textile group exports Vs otherproducts


 

As for as the export is concerned, the textile group is divided into 9 sub groups. Almost each group shows an increasing trend of exports. But year 2007-08 seems not to be good. Garments, Made-ups, Fabrics and Yarn seem to carry prominent positions. While none of the rest has more than 5% share (Fig. 3)


Figure 3: Exports of textile group components


Garments has remained almost 1/3rd of the total exports while Made-ups, Fabrics and yarn have on average 23%, 21% and 14% share simultaneously. (Fig. 4)


Figure 4: %age share of textile group components


 

Yarn does not seem to have a clear increasing or decreasing trend. One of the reasons might be the increase of in-house usage of yarn due to the development of new weaving, textile processing and garment industries. Fabric export has a clear increasing trend other than in 2006-07. Made-ups have been growing on a remarkable pace. However, the growth in garments was extraordinary. (Fig. 5)


Figure 5: Trends of prominent textile group components


Garments and Made-ups, the value added products, collectively enjoy just more than 50% exports of the textile group. This sector has incredible growth in previous years. Pakistan should focus more to develop this sector.


References:


  1. TDAP (Trade Development Authority of Pakistan)
  2. IIN (Industrial Information Network)
  3. USDA ( United States Department of Agriculture)
  4. "State of cotton production in Pakistan" by Dr; Tanveer Hussain



About the Authors


The authors are associated with Ecole Nationale Suprieure des Arts et Industries Textile, (ENSAIT) France.