Sustainability standards to help grow textile exports

The partnership between Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) and an international advisory body is expected to bolster Pakistan's textile exports by aligning cotton production with global sustainability benchmarks and enhancing the country's competitiveness in international markets.

It transpired at a meeting on Saturday between PTC and a delegation of the International Cotton Advisory Council (ICAC), led by Executive Director Eric Trachtenberg and Director of Textiles Kanwar Usman.

The delegation was accompanied by Dr Yusuf Zafar, Vice President of Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), which works under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, according to a statement.

During the meeting, PTC Chief Executive Officer Shafqaat pointed out that Pakistan was the fourth largest cotton producing country in the world just seven years ago. It produced 14.81 million cotton bales in the year 2011-12, which came down to less than 6 million bales in 2024-25.

He called the numbers alarming and highlighted the recent initiatives of the council aimed at promoting sustainable cotton production in Pakistan. He also talked about the recent memorandum of understanding signed with the Better Cotton Initiative, which aspired that all the cotton produced in Pakistan was traceable and sustainable.

ICAC's Eric Trachtenberg shared insights into the cotton advisory council's global efforts and explored avenues for collaboration between ICAC and PTC to improve cotton production practices in Pakistan.

Trachtenberg added, "ICAC is dedicated to supporting member countries in adopting sustainable cotton practices. Our collaboration with PTC aims to bring global best practices to Pakistan, enhancing both production and export potential."

PTC Chairman Fawad Anwar emphasised the critical importance of cotton for the textile value chain, stating "cotton is the most important raw material for our industry and PTC is committed to leveraging all available resources to make cotton production sustainable."

PCCC Vice President Dr Yusuf Zafar expressed optimism about the partnership, noting "the collaboration between PTC and ICAC, supported by PCCC, will play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable practices and improving the quality of cotton production in Pakistan."

Director Textiles Kanwar Usman highlighted the technical aspects of collaboration, stating "by working together, we can implement advanced agricultural techniques and improve supply chain traceability, ensuring that Pakistani cotton meets international sustainability and quality standards."