Technical advances in the field of textiles will originate mainly in developed countries, while developing countries will adopt the advanced technology with a delay of 5-10 years.

More attention will be focused on implementation of ISO 9001:2000 (quality management system), ISO 14001 (environmental management system), SA 8000 (social accountability), OHAS 18001 (occupational safety and health assessment), HRMS (human resources management system).

In fibre technology and development, emphasis will be on the fibre blends and modification in cellulose. Fibbers with better dimensional stability, soft handle coupled with modified dyeing properties will be in demand. In synthetic fibbers stress will be on fibbers with better moisture uptake and low pilling, silk like feel with easier dyeing characteristics.

Super micro-fibbers with soft, silky appearance, wearing comfort, along with good breath ability, wind and waterproof properties will be widely used. Energy/water shortage and raw material scarcity will push textile chemistry developments in the direction of products/process with better yields and possibility of re-cycling.

In machinery development, the trend will be towards automation in all stages including computer colour match prediction and composition of designs in printing. The evolution will be towards equipments using less and less of water like continuous dyeing, HT steaming and 'thermosoling' are expected to make rapid strides with increasing use of infra-red irritation in many application.

In finishing, functional knits, transparent fabrics weighing less than 100 g/m2, micro-fibbers, leisure wear, non-staining and easy care fabrics, fire proof, weather protection, free of harmful chemicals will be in demand.

The tendency will be to evolve a "universal finish" which at one stage will impart easy care, flame retardant and bactericidal characteristics to the textile material.

The development of synthetic polymer fibbers, production of high performance fibbers and high technology textiles will rapidly change the textile industry from science served to science based.

Different qualities of textile material shall be required to meet stringent specifications and as process of production becomes more and more complex, textile industry will have to depend on their own research and development services.

The availability of adequate laboratory facilities and their associated technical back-up shall increase the technical credibility of an organization. When testing as the basis of sales, accreditation will become vital when such transactions are for export, based on specific national standards.

With the dismantling of quota regime from 1st Jan 2005, for meeting globalization, progressive liberalization of market access and lowering of import tariff, will unleash competitive forces both in domestic and International markets. Pakistan will be forced to give MFN status to its neighbouring country India.

With the fast changing scenario in textiles, steps towards the "HRMS" will become more and more important. Lacking of investment in human resources shall contribute a great deal to inefficiency.

With economic liberalization and globalization, there will be tremendous amount of pressure for improving technical know-how, quality standards at every stage with reduced costs and use of eco-friendly products.

Therefore, in human resources management system, training services will be available for all levels of organization and tailor-made to the requirements of business. Only with optimally trained personnel can the goal of top productivity with optimum fabric can be obtained.

Value-added technical textiles will become more important from the point of growth and profitability. Active sports wear should be able to cover wide thermo-physiological range.

This shall be done by transporting warmth and moisture through specialized and chemically treated textile surface. Transportation process are necessary to balance and compensate the body temperature towards environmental influences on the textiles.

The textile industry is today faced with the challenging job of developing textiles, which are not harmful in anyway to human beings from hazards of environment. The textile producers will have to develop "quick response" manufacturing so that charges of fashion can be quickly met, repeat orders can be obtained and inventors kept to minimum. This will depend on "right first time" (RFT) processing, every time, together with the concept of "just-in-time" (JIT) delivery.