The textile industry is Pakistan's largest manufacturing sector, employing nearly 25 million people.[1][2] As the eighth largest exporter of textile commodities in Asia, the industry contributes 8.5% to the country's Gross domestic product.[3]
It accounts for about 45% of the total labor force and 38% of manufacturing workers. Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producer and holds the third largest spinning capacity in Asia, following China and India, contributing 5% to global spinning capacity.[4] The industry comprises 1,221 ginning units, 442 spinning units, 124 large spinning units, and 425 small units.[2]
The Government of Pakistan oversees this sector through the Ministry of Textile Industry. However, due to the devastating floods in 2022 and the ongoing energy and foreign exchange crises, an estimated 700,000 individuals in the textile industry have lost their jobs in 2023.[5]