LAHORE: The US Cotton Council Intern­ational (CCI) on Thursday urged Pakistan to manufacture and export textile goods to America after enormous value-addition.

The advice came at a meeting held between the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) and the CCI, with the objective of apprising the body about cotton quality, challenges, and possible solutions vis a vis challenges being faced by Pakistani cotton growers.

“Mutual cooperation between the American cotton growers and Pakistan’s textile industry offers a win-win situation for both countries where raw cotton imported from the US is converted into manufactured textile products and exported back to the US after enormous value addition,” said Kathleen Gibilisco, the Head of the Economic Wing of the US Consulate.

She was accompanying the US’s CCI delegation that called on the Aptma office bearers, emphasised the need for growth and sustainability in trade and economic relations between Pakistan and the US. She expressed hope that the current trend of growth in trade and economic ties would continue in the future as well.

The demand for improved product quality comes at a time when Pakistan is facing a severe shortage of approximately nine million bales this year due to various factors, including the devastation of the agriculture fields largely by floods.

It may be mentioned that Pakistan’s cotton demand continues to rise, as it needs 15m bales this year.

The Aptma and CCI representatives resolved to boost bilateral cooperation in the area of cotton and explore investment opportunities in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2022