Pakistan’s exports of textile and clothing increased 8.13 per cent during first ten months of the current fiscal year.
Products that contributed to positive growth in external trade include raw cotton, knitwear, yarn, bed wear exports, towels, readymade garments, silk and synthetic textiles.

Textile exports make up around 60 per cent of the country’s total exports. The textile sector has the largest share in Pakistan’s exports.

Pakistan’s competitors are upping the ante on textile exports to make inroads into more global markets. While China’s share in global textile exports is 36 per cent, Vietnam contributes 12.4 per cent, and Pakistan contributes seven per cent.

Various problems are being faced by the country’s textile sector including the high cost of doing business, multiple taxes and surcharges.

Pakistan predominantly being a textile export economy is struggling to maintain its share in global textile markets both in basic and value added textiles. Pakistan is the only country in the region that saw its total textile exports decline by ten per cent between 2011 and 2018.

Other economies like China, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam grew their exports at a compound rate of 20 per cent or more during the same period.