ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Masood Malik on Wednesday highlighted Pakistan’s growing leadership in promoting a circular economy through the trade of used textiles, a sector that not only supported livelihoods but also played a vital role in environmental sustainability.

Speaking at a dissemination meeting on circularity and the used textiles trade organised by a local NGO in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Union, Musadik Malik said the global fashion industry was one of the top contributors to waste, with millions of tonnes of clothing ending up in landfills annually.

“By recycling, reusing and upcycling, we extend the life cycle of textiles and reduce the environmental burden of fashion waste,” he said, adding that, “this trade is not just about commerce, it’s about people and the planet”.

In 2024, Pakistan’s used textile exports crossed $283 million, up from $255 million the previous year. As a result, Pakistan remained among the top three global re-exporters of second-hand clothing, with this sector contributing nearly 60pc of total textile exports.

The minister stressed that this trade provided affordable clothing to millions, particularly the 39pc of Pakistanis living below poverty line, while also offering income opportunities to thousands of informal workers, many of them women.

The minister highlighted that less than one per cent of imported used textiles in Pakistan ended up in landfills, showcasing the country’s efficient waste management system.

With Faisalabad handling over 85 per cent of textile waste, Pakistani recyclers process between 1,000 to 3,000 tons annually.

However, he pointed to challenges in the post-COVID era, including the influx of textile waste misclassified as second-hand goods.

Malik called for international standards to distinguish between reusable textiles and waste and urged global cooperation to support genuine recycling efforts.

He also announced that Pakistan was developing its first National Circular Economy Policy to institutionalise greener industrial practices, with the used textile sector seen as a national success story.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2025