Lahore (Urdu Point / Pakistan Point News – 20 March 2026) Pakistan Furniture Council CEO Mian Kashif Ashfaq said here on Friday that Pakistan has great potential to achieve sustainable socio-economic development in the 21st century through recycling textile waste which saves huge amount of water.
Speaking to a delegation of exporters led by Ahmed Nisar Gujjar, he said that although the challenges ahead of Pakistan are complex such as climate change, rapid population growth, resource shortages, insufficient job creation and rising poverty, Pakistan, within a decade, could be among the top five countries exporting circular and sustainable textiles made from recycled waste textiles. This will be a much-needed step to combat poverty, reduce textile waste, and conserve the country’s land, water and electricity resources. Mian Kashif said that Pakistan has the potential to eliminate textile waste and convert it into creative products.
The European Union exported 100,000 pairs of used jeans worth $100,000 US dollars 46 million to Pakistan in 2021 which was recycled and exported from KarachiHe said that Pakistan produces approximately 270,125.34 metric tons of textile waste annually.
There is an urgent need to impose a strict ban on dumping of textiles in the country. At the same time, it is crucial that the government works to develop the textile recycling industry and employ women and girls in the sector to transform textile waste into meaningful and innovative products.
He said, “Even branded handbags are made from waste fabrics and leather and it is an excellent example of women empowerment, entrepreneurship and transforming textile waste into practical, meaningful products.”