Pakistan’s textile and apparel exports are facing a serious, broad-based decline, driven by weak global demand, elevated domestic input costs, and intensifying international competition, said Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) Chairman Fawad Anwar while commenting on export performance during the first half of FY 2025–26.
Textiles and apparel, Pakistan’s largest export-oriented industry, are particularly exposed, with immediate implications for foreign exchange earnings, employment, and industrial capacity utilization.
An analysis of export trends for knitted apparel (Chapter 61), woven apparel (Chapter 62), and home textiles and made-ups (Chapter 63) shows a progressive weakening across the half-year, with November–December marking the lowest point. The decline is evident across the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
“The data confirms that this is not a demand-side or market-access issue. It is fundamentally a cost-of-doing-business and competitiveness crisis,” Anwar stated. “When exports decline across all major product categories and markets simultaneously, the problem is systemic.”
He noted that globally, governments are responding to similar challenges through proactive industrial policy and targeted state support. An IMF Working Paper on Industrial Policy (October 2025) documents a sharp rise in firm- and sector-specific interventions aimed at strengthening competitiveness, improving supply-chain resilience, and advancing climate-transition objectives.
Despite elevated tariffs and persistent trade tensions, China recorded a trade surplus of nearly $1 trillion during the first eleven months of 2025, supported by market diversification, competitive exchange-rate management, and sustained industrial support for high-value manufacturing.
Similarly, India has approved a $5 billion export support package, including credit guarantees and concessional trade-finance facilities, while Vietnam has introduced tax relief, improved access to industrial land, and targeted incentives under its “Doi Moi 2.0” reforms to reinforce private-sector competitiveness.
“Against this backdrop, Pakistan’s exporters are being asked to compete globally with structurally higher energy costs, fragmented taxation, delayed refunds, and policy unpredictability,” he said.
Recent data shows a concerning decline in Pakistan’s exports to its top three markets. Pakistani exporters have been unable to expand their market share in the United States, despite higher tariffs imposed on competing suppliers such as China and India.
Furthermore, India has concluded Free Trade Agreements with both the European Union and the United Kingdom. Pakistan’s exports to these markets are already on a downward trajectory, and once these FTAs become fully operational, competitive pressures are expected to intensify further.
“These indicators clearly call for decisive government intervention, similar in scale and urgency to the Rs. 1.2 trillion economic relief package launched during COVID-19,” Anwar emphasized.
In view of deteriorating export trends, the Pakistan Textile Council has proposed the following immediate measures:
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Rationalization of Export Taxation: Fix export tax at 1 percent as a full and final settlement, or alternatively apply a 15 percent corporate income tax. Super tax and advance tax on exporters should be withdrawn immediately.
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Immediate Launch of the DLTL Scheme: Launch the Duty & Taxes Remission for Exports (DLTL) with a 5 percent drawback rate for value-added, fabric-forward exporters, based on last year’s export performance, to offset non-refundable local duties, taxes, and levies. All outstanding DLTL and TUF claims should be cleared on a priority basis.
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Temporary Suspension of EOBI and Provincial Social Security Contributions: Suspend EOBI and SESSI/PESSI contributions for export-oriented industries for three years, given the substantial reserves currently available with these institutions.
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Immediate Reduction in Energy Costs: Remove the gas levy and cross-subsidy component embedded in electricity tariffs for export-oriented industries. The resulting fiscal impact should be met through budgetary resources to ease energy cost pressures and restore industrial competitiveness.
“Pakistan’s textile sector remains the backbone of exports, employment, and industrial activity,” Anwar concluded. “With timely, targeted, and decisive policy action, the decline can still be arrested. Delay will only accelerate de-industrialization and the loss of export markets.”
