Why Pakistan lags in man-made fibre exports

The global textiles and apparel trade is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting emphatically towards man-made fibres (MMF), which constitute around 63% of global textiles and apparel trade, earning them the title of “fibre of the future”. However, Pakistan’s textile sector stands at a crucial crossroads, predominantly tethered to cotton-based exports, which account for almost 67% of its total textile and apparel exports. MMF-based exports account for a mere 12%, thus sidelining itself from the burgeoning MMF market. This reliance on cotton not only highlights a missed opportunity in an evolving industry but also underscores the necessity for Pakistan to diversify and enhance its textile exports towards MMF to overcome economic challenges and increase its competitiveness in the global textiles landscape.