Islamabad, – As part of the 31st Specialized Training Program (STP) for the newly inducted Civil Service officers of the Commerce & Trade Group, Ministry of Commerce, in Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD), visited the headquarters of the Pakistan Textile Council (PTC).
The session provided the newly inducted civil servants with an in-depth understanding of Pakistan’s largest export sector and its significance for the national economy. Officers were briefed on the structure of the textile and apparel value chain, its share in the overall exports basked of Pakistan and in Pakistan’s GDP. The challenges being faced by the Industry, and the policy support required to enhance exports of Pakistan were also shared with the newly inducted Civil Servants.
Delivering a comprehensive presentation, Mr. Muhammad H. Shafqaat, CEO Pakistan Textile Council, highlighted:
• The vital contribution of the textile & apparel sector to Pakistan’s economic growth and exports.
• Key challenges including high costs of doing business and policy uncertainity.
• Opportunities and challenges arising out of the EU Green Deal on the future of Pakistan’s trade with the European Union, the country’s largest trading partner.
• The importance of adopting regionally competitive energy, tax, wage, and interest rate policies to remain competitive with competitors of Pakistan like Bangladesh, Vietnam China and India, especially in the wake of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States.
The presentation to the officers by CEO PTC was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, enabling the civil servants to engage on issues of trade competitiveness, sustainability, and policy options. On behalf of PTC, a commemorative shield was also presented to the participants.
The Minister of Commerce while commenting on the visit shared that such exercises are crucial in preparing future policymakers to better understand the realities of industry, ensuring that Pakistan’s trade policies are responsive to both domestic challenges and evolving global market dynamics. He stated that “Engaging with the private sector during training is critical for our newly inducted civil servants. Visits such as the one to the Pakistan Textile Council ensure that officers understand the real challenges faced by industry, from energy and taxation to global trade requirements like the EU Green Deal. Once in service, these officers will be in positions where their decisions directly impact trade policy. Exposure at this stage equips them to address industry concerns more effectively and to design policies that strengthen Pakistan’s competitiveness in global markets.”
The training of the officers will end in April 2025 after which they will be posted across different trade related offices inside and outside Pakistan.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
