The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) to conduct research study under the regional competitiveness initiative on trade between Pakistan and India in the textile and clothing industry. The research project will be sponsored by All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) and the World Bank.

The team consists of prominent economists and experts on the textile sector and from the field of international trade. IBA is conducting this research work in the national interest of Pakistan.

IBA Dean and Director Dr Ishrat Husain at the pre-launch event of the research study onf Firday said that Pakistani textile industry needs to be more efficient in meeting challenges of the future regional integration in South Asia.

Pakistan produces some of the finest textile products and there is a huge demand for it within the region. All they need to do is improve their efficiency and the quality of some of their products to increase market share in regional countries.

The purpose of the research project is to comprehensively study the textile value chain within Pakistan and India. It will identify potential synergies, prospects for growth, benefits to the economy and challenges faced by businesses and policymakers on trade between Pakistan with India.

IBA enjoys recognition and the trust of Pakistan’s policymakers, which is why the Pakistani government adopted the negative list study that IBA conducted in the past. Dr Husain has requested stakeholders in the Pakistani textile industry to provide accurate data because the study is most probably going to become the official policy of the government.