NIPA officers briefed on knitwear export challenges at PHMA

LAHORE
A group of senior officers from various federal ministries and provincial departments, currently undergoing training at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), visited the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) to gain insight into Pakistan’s knitwear manufacturing and export sector.
PHMA North Zone Senior Vice Chairman Izhar-ul-Haq, along with representatives of the industry and association members, briefed the visiting officers on the manufacturing processes, export potential and international market position of Pakistan’s knitwear and hosiery industry.
The briefing highlighted the sector’s contribution to export earnings, industrial activity and employment, while comparing Pakistan’s competitiveness with that of major regional competitors, including Bangladesh, India, China and Vietnam.
Addressing the delegation, Izhar-ul-Haq emphasised the need for a business-friendly policy environment to unlock the export potential of Pakistan’s value-added textile industry.
He said the sector had the capacity to increase exports, attract investment and generate employment, provided that longstanding structural constraints were addressed through coordinated government action.
He highlighted the challenges confronting manufacturers and exporters, including high energy and production costs, expensive financing, taxation pressures, delayed refunds, regulatory hurdles and intense international competition.
These factors, he explained, increase the cost of Pakistani products and make it difficult for local exporters to compete for international orders on price and delivery.
Izhar-ul-Haq stressed that improving export competitiveness required consistent and predictable policies, affordable working capital, competitive utility tariffs and an efficient regulatory framework. He underscored the importance of closer coordination between government departments and industry representatives to identify practical solutions and facilitate sustainable export growth.
The delegation was also apprised of the impediments restricting the industry’s expansion, including cost disadvantages against competing countries and the need for a supportive environment for industrial investment and modernisation.
The visit provided an opportunity for the officers to understand the operational realities of export-oriented manufacturing and the challenges businesses face in international markets. The interaction also highlighted the importance of effective policymaking, institutional coordination and industry consultation in strengthening Pakistan’s export base.
PHMA representatives expressed hope that greater awareness among government officers of the industry’s challenges would contribute to informed policy decisions and practical measures to improve the competitiveness of Pakistan’s knitwear and hosiery exports.