Pakistan’s government is reinforcing its commitment to an ambitious $50 billion textile export target by 2030, placing a significant emphasis on academia-industry collaboration to spur the necessary innovation, a stance highlighted during a high-level review at the National Textile University (NTU).
Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, underscored this objective during his tour of the NTU campus on Friday. He received a comprehensive briefing on the institution’s pivotal research, development, and pioneering initiatives designed to bolster the nation’s foremost export sector.
University officials presented their advancements in sustainable fabrics, technical textiles, smart materials, and environmentally friendly processing methods. These projects are central to NTU’s mission as Pakistan’s premier federal institution for textile education, established in 1954.
The briefing detailed the university’s cutting-edge facilities, including the Central Hi-Tech Laboratory and the National Textile Research Centre, which support extensive cooperation with industrial partners and foster export-focused advancements.
Discussions also centered on the university’s robust connections with Faisalabad’s vast textile industry, highlighting successful technology transfer partnerships and annual professional training programs. A key point of focus was NTU’s alignment with global sustainability standards, such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which are critical for international market access.
Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan commended NTU’s significant contributions to the national apparel and fabric sector, which currently constitutes over 60 percent of the country’s total exports with an annual value exceeding $15 billion. He reaffirmed the Ministry of Commerce’s resolute support for strengthening the bond between academic research and industrial application to achieve the government’s future export goals.
The high-profile engagement was attended by Chairman of the NTU Board of Governors Naveed Gulzar, alongside board members Mian Muhammad Latif and Engr. Dean Zulfiqar, as well as the university’s deans, department heads, and senior faculty members.