Muhammad Saleem

Pakistan’s textile industry – the mainstay of the national economy – continues to face climate challenges, causing a reduction in production and benefiting international business rivals.

Talking to WealthPK, Dr. Khan, a faculty member of a state-run university, said climate change has hit almost every segment of the society, and the textile sector is no exception. He said cotton is the lifeblood for the textile sector, and except for a few years, the country has been facing a shortage of cotton due to the adverse effects of climate change and has been importing it. The question is how will we tackle this situation head-on because the government’s current approaches reflect that they are not taking the climate challenge seriously, he said. Talking about developed nations like the European Union (EU), Dr Khan said they are firmly committed to a green agenda, and trade with such countries is impossible if one chooses to go against their agenda. He said Pakistan is enjoying the GSP-Plus status and accordingly the country has to follow multiple environmental standards, labor rights, and governance practices. “Owing to the GSP-Plus status, Pakistan has successfully increased its exports to European countries, and any deviation from the standards set by the EU can cause significant losses to our trade,” he warned.

Dr Khan urged Pakistani policymakers to create a supportive framework by providing incentives for green technology investments in the textile sector. “We must join hands with international partners to benefit from their approaches and technology to achieve the environment-related goals. We need to stay ahead of the curve; otherwise, our business rivals will leave no room for us to compete internationally,” he said. Talking to WealthPK, Anwar Ali, a textile exporter, said the issues related to environment are substantial. Hefty funds are needed to battle environmental issues, as transitioning to water recycling systems or energy-efficient machinery is essential for success in future. “We have to devise our policies in line with the changing environment of the country. Installation of machinery required for these tasks is not possible without government assistance.

We want to install water treatment plants to avoid health and environment related issues, but we cannot afford the heavy price tag of the machinery being manufactured abroad,” he added. Anwar noted that lack of information and support is also holding the country back. He said the water and sanitation agency’s water handling system is not catering to the needs of the industrial units. Owing to their incapacity, the millers have to close their units on different days to lessen the water discharge burden. Owing to the poor sewage system, the effluent being discharged by the textile mills has caused a ripple effect on Samundri Road, creating environmental and health-related issues for the public, he said. “Our sustainability hinges on our ability to adapt quickly to the changing market demands. The businesses with no capacity to absorb transformation will lose their market shares.

Environmental changes are a reality, and we have to stay ahead of the curve in devising our policies accordingly; otherwise, foreign buyers will reject our products.” Talking to WealthPK, Sajid Aslam, a social worker, said carbon emissions need to be regulated in Pakistan. The world is becoming stricter about carbon emission regulations due to which the Pakistani exporters may face increased pressure to monitor and reduce their carbon footprints in future. He warned that if foreign buyers find that Pakistan’s textile products are too carbon-intensive compared to its competitors, then our exporters will face the music. “The need of the hour is to invest in cleaner production technologies to stay competitive in the international market,” he said, adding that a clean environment is imperative to ensure a smooth trade and good health for Pakistanis.

Credit: INP-WealthPk