A major textile and garment hub, Punjab has slipped to the seventh position in volume of net exports in the sector in 2019-20. As per Ministry of Textiles, Punjab exported textiles and garments worth $1,509 million in 2019-20. The state was preceded by other states such as Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

Industrialists warn Punjab’s position may slip further if the Centre and the state government keep turning a blind eye to the problems of garment and textile industry. Harish Dua, Executive Council Member, Apparel Export Promotion Council opines, at one time Ludhiana was the number one garment manufacturer in the country, but due to the apathy of the successive Central and state governments, its position was taken over by other states. Dua believes one of the biggest hurdles for Ludhiana's garment exporters is huge expenditure incurred on outgoing freight till the ports as compared with the other states. Manufacturers have been demanding freight subsidy for garment exporters of Punjab since many years.

Vinod Thapar, Chairman, Knitwear Club, advises the Centre and state to come together and introduce a tailor-made technological upgrade scheme for the state, under which it should be given financing at 0 per cent rate for purchase of machinery.

However, Narinder Mittal, General Secretary, Ludhiana Business Forums says, textiles is a vast term that includes a wide product range, including denims, carpets, saris, home furnishing and specialised fabrics. However, Punjab produces nothing of this sort and therefore lags behind other states UP and Gujarat. He urged the state and central governments to take steps to uplift the garment industry of Ludhiana.