Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan said the government is finalising a comprehensive Textiles and Apparel Policy and National Industrial Policy for the next five years to make Pakistan’s industry regionally competitive, remove trade barriers, and ensure sustained export growth.
The announcement came while chairing a meeting with Aamir Fayyaz Sheikh, CEO of Kohinoor Mills; Kamran Arshad, Chairman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA); Rehman Naseem, CEO of Fazal Cloth; and Shahid Sattar, Executive Director APTMA. The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan.
According to an official statement, the Textiles and Apparel Policy will focus on reducing manufacturing costs, improving resource productivity, optimising processes, promoting research and development, diversifying products and markets, and increasing Pakistan’s share in global exports.
The minister said the government is committed to ensuring decisions are taken in consultation with stakeholders and stressed that the government and industry are aligned in their aim to revive export growth. He welcomed proposals from the industry to analyse regional competitors’ policies and shared observations from his recent visit to Dhaka, where he noted Bangladesh’s progress in industrial development and readymade garment exports.
Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan stated that the new industrial policy will cover the broader industrial landscape beyond a few sectors. The policy will include areas such as energy, tariffs and taxation, financing, and economic zones. It will also incorporate facilitation for greenfield projects, land-lease models under public-private partnerships, and a one-window model for investor facilitation.
During the meeting, the APTMA delegation urged the government to remove structural inefficiencies and provide an enabling environment to enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistan’s export sectors.
