6, April 2005	Wednesday	26 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 5: The government needs to adopt new technologies and augment quality production to face the World Trade Organization (WTO) challenges in the textile sector. This was stated by Vice-Chancellor University of Arid Agriculture Dr Khalid Mahmood Khan at a seminar organized by the university’s Institute of Management Sciences on “WTO and textile and clothing status” here on Tuesday.

“We need to have educated and trained manpower to increase quality production and have a competitive edge. In this regard, there should be an active collaboration between the industry and the academia,” Dr Khan added.

It is amazing that the country has not a single PhD in textile at this time, he said, adding the government should work out a well thought-out strategy.

“We need to have a proper homework as the world is moving towards an ever-increasing competition age where only quality will matter,” he argued.

Textile and clothing industry represents a vital source of income for developing countries. Although working conditions are often precarious, the industry provides tens of thousands of jobs, particularly for women, he said.

Sadly, under the rigged rules of international trade, textile industry in Pakistan is facing many threats relating to export of goods, the vice-chancellor said.

Industry and government contribution to resolve the issues and make preparation for interaction with the international market is needed, he said.

Another speaker Masood Ahmad Dar said, “Textile and clothing sector is in the Bronze age if not in the Iron age in Pakistan.” No doubt, the country has some reputed textile mills but their number is too small to meet the WTO challenges, he said.

“Actually, we lack the real understanding of the post-2005 era and have no focus on strategic textile vision. We have uneducated labour and our primary enrolment in textile sector is even lower than Bangladesh. Moreover, we do not have the skills and technology to undertake quality and cost-effective manufacturing,” he said.