In a meeting between the two leaders, Dr Ayyaz Uddin, Chairperson-North Zone, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) urged Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Commerce Minister to adopt a unified approach to address sustainability challenges in Pakistan’s textile industry. Further, Dr also Uddin emphasised on the need to increase collaboration between government ministries, academia, and industry stakeholders to ensure compliance with global sustainability standards.
Highlighting the significance of Pakistan’s textile industry that generates $16.5 billion in annual exports besides being the primary employment generator in the country, Dr Ayyaz said, the sector faces increasing pressure to align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, particularly in light of international frameworks like the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and International Labor Organisation (ILO) conventions.
Recognising these demands as both a challenge and an opportunity, Dr Ayyaz proposed creating two specialised task forces under the National Compliance Centre (NCC). One of these task forces would address challenges specific to the textile export sector, while the other would focus on governance concerns in non-textile export industries.
Further, Dr. Ayyaz advocated for leveraging expertise from academia, industry associations, and the government to develop practical solutions for compliance and sustainability. He emphasised on PRGMEA’s ongoing efforts to support manufacturers and exporters in calculating carbon footprints, adopting eco-friendly practices, and meeting global benchmarks for sustainability.
These proposed initiatives will help PRGMEA make significant improvements in labor practices, environmental compliance, and export competitiveness, ultimately strengthening Pakistan’s position in the global market, Dr Ayyaz affirmed.
Paving the way for a more sustainable future, these measures will drive transformative progress in the industry, opined PRGMEA,
