Environment and Sustainability

Pakistan textile processing

industry facing environmental
challenges

Environmental problems associated with the Textile Processing

sector are well known world wide. With increasing global awareness
regarding the issues of environment and pollution, improved environmental
performance has become a major factor in the dynamics of the world markets,
and successful businesses around the globe are striving to achieve the goals
of responsible environmental behavior.

Textile sector is considered the
backbone of Pakistan economy as it is the
most important industrial sector in terms
of export and labor force employment.
Around 700 textile processing units are
currently working in the country. These
units carry out various textile processes,
ranging from desizing and bleaching to
calendaring. Textile and its made-ups
account for more than 58% of the total
exports.
Today’s textile printing technology
facilitates the precise and exact placing of
prints on a garment, enables the
manufacturers to decrease or increase the exports of Pakistan it is essential to
size of the print, modify the background
tones, produce optical illusions, print
Category-Wise Production of Cloth
Year Blended Grey
advanced graphics, and offer the best regime of international trade under World
translation of every single design. Trade Organization (WTO) demands that
Apparel represents the largest fabric the production of textile products should
usage and nowadays consumers are more comply with local environmental
concerned about the green production standards. If these standards are not
and choose products that are non-toxic followed precisely, the Pakistani textile
and cause no harm to both humans and products would not be accepted in
the environment. This trend for eco- international markets.
friendly products has been extended to Many chemicals used in the textile
industry cause environmental and health
textile and apparel products, particularly
problems. These problems may occur
those products which directly come into
contact with the skin for prolongedduring the production process, with
periods. respect to emissions or occupational
To enhance and sustain the textile health problems. Other problems caused
by these chemicals appear due to their
address the associated environmental presence in the final product. However,
problems on urgent basis. The new worldwide environmental problems
associated with the textile
industry are typically those
associated with the water
(Quantity: 000 sq meters) pollution caused by the
discharge of untreated effluent
and those because of use of
Dyed & toxic chemicals especially
Bleached Total
Printed during processing.

2006-07 61,100 582,819 71,681 297,318 1,012,918 In recent years the usage of
natural dyes and colours for
2007-08 54,737 561,695 73,311 326,647 1,016,390 fabric dyeing has witnessed its
revival due to the hazardous
2008-09 56,093 553,551 78,201 331,838 1,019,683
effects of synthetic dyes and
2009-10 59,441 566,020 86,127 297,999 1,009,587 chemicals. The natural dyes are
eco-friendly, harmless and non-
2010-11 60,671 572,575 87,292 309,134 1,029,672
toxic. In addition, the usage of
2011-12 59,830 568,585 86,805 309,060 1,024,280 renewable sources of energy in
textile and apparel industry has
2012-13 60,380 570,830 87,800 311,340 1,030,350 been increased due to many
Source: Textile Commissioner Organisation
advantages associated with it.

43
 Environment and Sustainability
Import of Dyes and Pigments in Pakistan
Quantity
Year
(Tonnes)
2009-10 34,567
2010-11 39,345
2011-12 35,996
2012-13 36,850
Source: Federal Bureau of Statistics,
Government of Pakistan
Finishing operation entails production
of finished textile fabric from greige
goods. Finishing operations are
predominantly wet operations requiring
large amounts of thermal energy for
water heating and drying as well as dyes
and chemicals. These chemicals can harm
the consumer if retained in the fabric.
Import of various types of dyes and
pigments in Pakistan increased from Rs
12.9 billion in 2009-10 to Rs 13.9 billion
in 2012-2013. On the other hand import
of organic chemicals in Pakistan increased
from US $1.78 billion in 2007-08 to US $
2.21 billion in 2011-12, thus showing an
average increase of 5% per annum.
The weaving and made-up sectors
have three different subsectors in
weaving viz. integrated, independent
weaving units and power loom sector.
Cloth is being produced in both mill and
non-mill sectors and produce fabrics
range from coarse to super varieties.
There are a large number of vertically
Import of Organic Chemicals in
Pakistan
Value
Year
(US $ Million)
2007-08 1,784
2008-09 1,557
2009-10 1,630
2010-11 1,996
2011-12 2,207
Source: State Bank of Pakistan Annual Reports.
44
integrated units,
where production is
controlled from fibre
Value
to the end product,
(Rs. in Million)
and marketed
12,924 abroad directly.
The production
13,439
of cloth (mill sector)
13,376 increased from 1,013
million square meters
13,870 in 2006-07 to 1,030
million square meters
in 2012-13. Out of
total cloth
production during
2012-13 in mill sector, 56% produced in
grey form, and 30% dyed and printed,
and 14% blended and bleached.
Pakistan’s textile industry is facing
tough competition from the regional
competitors. The cost of doing business in
Pakistan is high as compared to other
regional competitors. On account of
these reasons, the Pakistan textile
industry is going through a crucial phase.
The problems with energy sector are
particularly significant and are taking a
toll on textile sector productivity.
Furthermore, constrained energy sector
also increases cost of production of textile
commodities as well as results in
depressed demand. But there is no
denying the fact that there exists
immense potential for growth and
development in the textile industry.
The textile sector is expected to grow
at a good pace, as European Union (EU)
has supported Pakistan’s for granting
Environmental problems and pollutions are menace to the modern
world. Environmental water pollution is nearing hazardous limits
and people have no awareness of this danger.
Pakistan’s reduced tariffs under the EU’s
Generalised System of Preference (GSP)
during the year 2013-14.
This allows almost 20% of Pakistani
exports to enter the EU at zero tariffs
while a further 70% is allowed to enter at
preferential tariff. Pakistan’s exports are
dominated by textile and clothing, up to
the value of 2.6 billion euros while EU
imports textiles and clothing with a value
of 3.5 billion euros annually, therefore,
chances of growth of textile sector are
bright in near future.
In view of the anticipated competition
with rival countries, efforts are being
made to make textile and clothing sector
more dynamic and competitive as per
targets set in economic growth
framework strategy. To sustain its position
and increase its share and to move into
high value added products that are
environmental friendly yet sustainable in
the highly competitive global scenario.
References
1. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association
(APTMA)
2. Trade Development Authority of
Pakistan
3. Federal Bureau of Statistics,
Government of Pakistan
4. J.R. Aspland “Pigments and Textile
Colorants- Text .Chem. colorist, 1993
5. LWC Mills, Textile Printing SDC 2nd
Edition 2003
6. State Bank of Pakistan-Annual
Reports
7. Textile Commissioner Organization,
Government of Pakistan.