Raza Khan

The Ministry of Commerce has decided to launch a skill development scheme for the textile and apparel industry to enhance exports, said a report.The objectives of the scheme include human resource development, increasing exports, creating employment opportunities, poverty alleviation and gender inclusion in the textile sector.

The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs4.598 billion, while the time period of the scheme would be five years. The Ministry of Commerce has sought Rs118.2 million from the government for the next fiscal year (2023-24) to initiate the project. According to the scheme, individuals in value-added textile sectors will be trained according to international quality standards. The goal is also to encourage entrepreneurship among the young generation.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, creating employment opportunities in the country is also a major object of the purposed scheme. Unemployed young people will receive training to develop skills that will help them become productive members of the workforce. Expanding the pool of skilled workers in the country is another objective of the scheme. People would be provided skills along with entrepreneurial motivation and competence so they can start their own businesses as well.

This scheme will also contribute towards poverty reduction, social and economic development of the country through employment and entrepreneurships,” the Ministry of Commerce said. Another aspect of the scheme will be gender inclusion. “Promoting gender equality and women empowerment in education, employment and industrial participation will be focused under the scheme,” the report said.

The scheme would also help increase the country’s exports through uplift of hands-on skill of textile-related personnel (especially garment stitchers) by enabling them to comply with international export standards. The scheme will also focus on increasing value addition in terms of per unit value and exports in textile sector. “Textile factories and production units will be encouraged and trained to use modern management techniques for improving efficiency and reducing wastages,” the ministry said.

“The availability of skilled workforce for the textile industry will make it more competitive and export-oriented. One of the objectives of the scheme is to uplift the economic status and living standard of textile workers, especially women, through their employment-based skill development,” the ministry said. It will make sure sustainable employment and industry promotion all over the country. It will also engage a panel of professional agencies for innovation, project identification and execution of the scheme to make it result-oriented.

“Training of workers, engineers, and supervisors will be ensured to boost productivity,” the ministry said.  According to Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), textile exports are the major portion of the country’s overall exports, and the textile sector hosts over 50% of the industrial workforce.

According to the Board of Investment (BoI), Pakistan is the eighth largest exporter of textile products in Asia. It is also the fourth largest producer and the third largest consumer of cotton. Textile comprises of 46% of the total manufacturing sector. Textile exports of $19.31 billion in the fiscal year 2021-22 accounted for 60.92% of the country’s total exports of $31.76 billion. According to Textiles and Apparel Policy 2020-25, the textile exports target for the current fiscal year has been set at $25 billion.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk