Over 400 delegates from 60 countries visit Pakistan for international textile exhibition

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 5th left, in a group photo with federal Ministers, governor and chief minister Sindh and organizers of Textile Expo (TEXPO) 2023 in Karachi on May 26, 2023. (PID)

• PM Sharif asks exporters to come up with innovative and unique ideas to enhance Pakistan’s commercial potential
• Pakistan was among the top 10 global textile exporters until 2021, but the sector witnessed slowdown more recently

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday welcomed more than 400 delegates from 60 countries who are currently visiting the country’s southern port city of Karachi to attend the 4th International Textile Exhibition (TEXPO), a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Pakistan’s textile and clothing industry plays a vital role in sustaining its economy since it accounts for more than 60 percent of the country’s total exports. According to Statista, a market and consumer data platform, the South Asian country was among the top 10 global textile exporters in 2021 with a value of about $9 billion.
Owing to an ongoing economic turmoil amid energy shortages and a major balance of payments crisis, however, the country has witnessed a gradual decline in its textile exports since last October, according to the Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA).
The government has arranged several international exhibitions in this context to once again boost the textile exports, including TEXPO 2023, which is taking place in southern Karachi port city from May 26 to May 28.
Pakistan also hosted the Textile Asia Exhibition in March, which witnessed the participation of eight countries.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday stressed the country’s exporters to come up with innovative and unique ideas to boost exports which would ultimately help the country earn valuable foreign exchanges,” said the PM Office in the statement.
“Welcoming the foreign delegates, the PM said he was happy to learn that over 400 foreign delegates from 60 countries were visiting on the occasion, [showing that] Pakistan was a valuable destination for foreign guests, buyers, and traders.”
Addressing a ceremony at the TEXPO, the premier pointed out that despite financial challenges and other difficulties, the government was committed to providing genuine support to all the export sectors, including textile, leather and sports, to help increase the country’s commercial potential.
“I have no doubt in mind that we can still recover from these setbacks and … excel in our exports,” he said.
The PM also appreciated local industrialists, exporters and experts, saying they had contributed immensely to promoting Pakistan’s textile and leather exports.