In the past four years, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has registered an increase of $3.5 billion in textile exports,this, despite the energy crisis and high interest rates.The group has set a target of another $13 billion in the next five years that will generate 10 million jobs in the country.

An unprecedented energy crisis and highly uncompetitive interest rates have been hampering the growth of Pakistan’s textile industry since 2007. 

Now the group has pursued the government for a reduction of 2.5 per cent in interest rates to compete with regional players. APTMA plans to hold international roadshows in the EU and the US and this exercise will start from a show in Lahore in the month of December. Efforts are also underway to bring Chinese investment into the textile sector of Pakistan.Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producer in the world and the third largest cotton consumer.

APTMA is a trade organization for the Pakistani yarn, spinning, weaving and knitting industries. It also plans to become a member of the International Cotton Association so that it can avail of arbitration facilities at the world level for the cotton trade. 

aptma.org.pk/