To improve the quality of cotton production in Pakistan, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) on Friday. The MoU will supplement the efforts for mainstreaming production and consumption of BCI cotton in Pakistan.

The initiative also aims in achieving sustainability targets and increase the market access for textile products from Pakistan.

Aptma will be the Programme Promoting Agency within Pakistan to promote the initiative in line with the BCI’s Strategic Plan for the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Aptma Chairman S M Tanveer said that the production of better cotton in Pakistan had increased to 293,000 metric tonnes in 2014 from 163,000 metric tonnes in 2013. This is a clear indication that the supply and demand of BCI cotton is rapidly on the rise.

Whil many other brands including Sainsbury’s, Lindex, Inditex, Bestseller, MQ, George, Walmart, Hemtex, Migros and Vf are on the way to make BCI conditional for future purchases. He urged all stakeholders in the textile industry value chain to expedite work for reaching 100 percent production and consumption of better cotton.

According to BCI Chief Executive Officer Patrick Charles Laine, the event is a sign of overall improvement of global cotton production and textile sector as well as the environment it is produced in and the people associated with producing it.

The production principles of BCI include crop protection, conservation of water, soil and habitat care besides the fibre quality and decent work.

The global brands and retailers including Levi’s, Nike, Ikea, Marks & Spencer, Adidas and H&M have set targets of 100% procurement of clothes prepared by better cotton by 2015 to 2020.

To achieve the targets set under the MoU, APTMA would seek funds from the EDF.