German Envoy Pledges Support for Pakistan’s Apparel Exports

By Muhammad Shahzad
Lahore
LAHORE: German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel has reaffirmed Germany’s strong commitment to supporting Pakistan’s apparel industry, calling for deeper bilateral collaboration to unlock the sector’s full export potential.
She expressed concern that Pakistan’s apparel exports have remained largely stagnant for over a decade, with current export volumes almost unchanged compared to figures recorded during her previous visit to the country ten years ago. Ambassador Lepel stressed that this lack of progress highlights the urgent need for Pakistan to diversify its export base, move higher up the value chain, and embrace innovation to strengthen its competitiveness in global markets.
The Ambassador was addressing an interactive session with senior representatives of Pakistan’s value-added apparel export industry — a sector currently valued at approximately $10 billion. The discussion focused on expanding bilateral trade, strengthening private-sector linkages, increasing women’s participation in employment, and addressing structural challenges confronting the industry.
The session was attended by prominent industry leaders, including PRGMEA North Zone Chairman M Rizwan Zubair, PHMA North Zone Chairman Abdul Hameed, and PRGMEA former Chairman Ijaz Khokhar.
Participants underscored the apparel sector’s critical role in driving economic growth, generating employment — especially for women — and supporting export diversification. With over 500 member firms and strong representation from small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Pakistan’s garment and hosiery industry continues to be a major contributor to value-added exports aligned with global demand.
Ambassador Lepel cautioned stakeholders not to take the EU’s GSP Plus status for granted and urged strict adherence to international standards, particularly full implementation of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. She emphasized that robust compliance with labour rights, human rights, and environmental standards is essential to maintain continued preferential access to the European Union market and to enhance the global reputation of Pakistan’s apparel products.
The Ambassador also advocated for export diversification beyond textiles and the adoption of innovative, sustainable manufacturing practices. She reaffirmed Germany’s readiness to assist Pakistan in these areas, particularly through technical and vocational training initiatives aimed at building a skilled workforce capable of meeting international benchmarks.
PRGMEA Acting Chairman M Rizwan Zubair highlighted the apparel industry’s substantial contribution to national exports and emphasized the pivotal role of SMEs in fostering innovation and creating employment opportunities, especially for women in both urban and rural areas. He noted that Pakistan’s continued compliance with ILO conventions has been instrumental in sustaining market access and supporting sectoral growth.
PHMA Chairman Abdul Hameed spoke about the resilience of the hosiery and knitwear sub-sector despite ongoing challenges such as high energy costs, complex taxation structures, and bureaucratic obstacles. He called for urgent policy reforms to create a more enabling business environment and stressed the importance of deeper integration into global supply chains to attract investment and expand international partnerships.
PRGMEA former Chairman Ijaz Khokhar acknowledged the transformative impact of GSP Plus status, which has allowed Pakistani exporters to access European markets on preferential terms. However, he urged all stakeholders to remain proactive in securing the renewal of GSP Plus by consistently improving quality, transparency, and compliance throughout the supply chain.
In the vote of thanks, Ashar Khurram drew attention to persistent difficulties faced by Pakistani exporters in obtaining visas, which restrict their ability to participate in international trade fairs and buyer meetings. He also highlighted marketing constraints that limit global outreach and called for stronger institutional support to promote Pakistani apparel brands abroad.
Participants at the session reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening Pakistan–Germany cooperation in the textile and apparel sector. They emphasized the need to expand trade linkages, improve regulatory frameworks, and increase business delegation exchanges. Through joint efforts focused on quality enhancement, sustainability, and regulatory reforms, both sides aim to deepen bilateral trade ties and unlock significant new growth opportunities for Pakistan’s apparel industry.