The 2nd International Conference on Knowledge-Based Textile took place at the National Textile University, Faisalabad on 14th-15th February 2023. The conference was organized by the School of Engineering and Technology under the Grand Challenge Fund Project (KnowTex) and co-organized by seven institutes and universities, including three national and four international co-organizers: Donghua University, China, University Technology Malaysia, Malaysia, Northumbria University, UK, and Taxonomy, UK, and at national level NED University, Karachi, BUITEMS Quetta, and Pakistan Circular Fashion Council.
This conference was fully sponsored by several industries. Including Interloop Limited (Platinum Sponsor), the gold sponsors were Nizam Sons, US Denim, iTextiles (pvt) Ltd., and Sapphire Textile Mills Ltd., while WWF Pakistan, Mahmood Group and ELEVATE Â global were the Silver Sponsors. Media partners of this conference were TEXtalks International and Pakistan Textile Journal. There were also several supporting bodies like the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporter Association (PHMA), Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturer and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCI), Feroze 1888 and Artistic Apparels who contributed in the success of this conference.
The opening session of this conference was attended by a large gathering of professionals from all fields of life. Dr. Yasir Nawab, the Chairman of the conference, delivered the opening speech and welcomed all the attendees, including distinguished guests and speakers from around the globe. He also shared the current progress of KnowTex with the participants.
Mr. Mujeeb Ullah Khan from i-Textiles delivered his talk about the industry perspective of the Grand Challenge Fund (GCF). Prof. Dr. Tanveer Hussain, Rector NTU gave a thorough insight into the opportunities and challenges for the textile industry of Pakistan in the current modern era. Mr. Arif Qureshi, CEO of Nimra Textiles, and Chairman of PTEA was the chief guest of the opening ceremony. Mr. Khawaja Muhammad Amjad SVC, PHMA, Mr. Musharraf Iqbal Khawaja, Chairman PHMA Sialkot, Mr. Shaikh Shafiq Jhokwala ex.
Chairman PRGMEA, Mr. Naveed Gulzar CEO Crescent Mills, Mian. Kashif Zia, Chairman of the Council of Textile-FCCI, and Mr. Qamar Aftab CEO of images Garment graced the opening ceremony as a guest of honor. Delegates from over 70 industries and 7 associations and chambers including APTMA, PHMA, PRGMEA, APBUMA, All Pakistan cotton power loom association, FCCI, and SCCI participated in the opening day of the event. The opening session concluded with the distribution of shields and certificates among the delegations, associations, and industrialists.
The inaugural session was followed by technical sessions, poster presentations, a design competition, and panel discussions, where participants shared their knowledge and experiences with the audience. MS and Ph.D. students presented their research through poster presentations. The first day of the conference featured three technical sessions and two-panel discussions. This conference was graced by a wide range of globally renowned textile experts from various countries such as Malaysia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, Turkiye, China, Vietnam, Croatia, Estonia, and Iran.
Pakistan Circular Textile Platform was also launched on the opening day of the event by the chief guest Mr. Arif Mahmood Qureshi, Prof. Tanveer Hussain, Chairman (PCTP) in the presence of representatives of all partners including iTextiles, Pakistan Circular Fashion Council, APTMA, Taxonomy, UK, PHMA, PRGMEA, Pakistan Textile Council, TEXTalks International, Pakistan Textile Journal, and Management Committee.
Conference was graced by a diverse group of speakers from different nationalities including Prof. Mohd. Sapuan Salit from the University of Putra Malaysia, Malaysia, Prof. Mat Uzir Wahit and Dr. Ilyas Bin Rushdan from the University of Technology, Malaysia, Prof. Alberto Saccavini from Blumine SRL, Italy, Dr. Shahid Rasul and Dr. John Arthur from Northumbria University Newcastle, UK, Dr. Aminoddin Haji from Yazd University, Iran, Prof. Raul Fangueiro from the University of Minho, Portugal, Mr. Jeff Wheeler from ELEVATE in the US, Ms. Ann Runnel CEO, Reverse Resources and Dr. Roohollah Bagherzadeh from Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran.
Furthermore, major textile universities across the country, such as UET Lahore, MUET Jamshoro, NED Karachi, BUITEMS Quetta, UET Taxila, GCU, Lahore, GCUF Faisalabad, GCUW, Faisalabad and PIFD Lahore, participating in the event. Our national speakers include Mr. Mujeebullah Khan, CEO of iTextiles, Ltd, Prof. Zeeshan Khatri from Mehran University, Jamshoro, Dr. Saif Ullah from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila, Ms. Saleha Asif, founder of Purpose Quotient, Prof. Dawood Hussain (NED), Dr. Syed Zameer Ul Hassan from BUITEMs, Dr. Salma Farooq (NED), Dr. Allahdad (PIFD), Dr. Ayyaz Uddin, CEO of Pakistan Circular Fashion Council, Dr. Abdul- Sattar Nizami(GCU, Lahore), Prof. Zamir Ahmed Awan (GSRRA), Mr. Zaki Saleemi from CBL, Mr. Sohail Ali Naqvi from WWF Pakistan, Mr. Saqib Sohail from Artistic Milliners, and faculty members from NTU.
On the 2nd day of the conference, the conference was conducted in a dual mode both physical and online. The two online sessions were specially conducted with DHU China and Bursa Uludag university, Turkiye The following speakers from international and national institutes presented their research included: Prof. Fujun Xu, Dr. Xueping Zhang, Dr. Kai Ca, and Dr. Sagar Sarker from Donghua University, China, Ms. Eileen Ng from ITMA, Prof. Mehmet Karahan, Mr. Mazyar Ahrari, Mr. Abdullah Umur Güngör, Mr. Mehemet Kopar from Bursa Uludag University, Türkiye, Prof. Francois Boussu, ENSAIT, France, Dr. May Kahoush, University of Borås, Sweden, Mr. Antoneta Tomljenovic, and Mr. Juro zivicnjak from University of Zagreb, Croatia, Dr. Pham Quoc Hoan, Vietnam Maritime University, Dr. Muhammad Haroon Rasheed from NTU, and Dr. Saira Faisal, from NED University.
On the sideline of the conference, three MoUs were also signed between the National Textile University and Amir Kabir the University of Technology, Iran, Fibrenamics, University of Minho, Portugal and Yazd University, Iran.
The Closing Ceremony of this conference was also a promising event and Mr. Arif Ehsan Malik, Ex Chairman APBUMA graced the ceremony as a chief guest. Mr. Bilal Jameel, Zonal Chairman APBUMA, Mr. Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmad, Chairman Sadaqat Limited, Mr. Shaikh Jawaad Shafiq, and Engr. Ahmad Hassan, FCCI was the guest of honor at the event. Secretary Conference (Dr. Muzzamal Hussain) gave a closing speech at the 2nd International Conference Knowledge-based Textiles and thanked all the speakers, organizers, sponsors, sporting bodies and everybody involved in the conference. A Souvenir was presented by Dr. Yasir Nawab, Dr. Zafar Javed, and Dr. Sajjad Baig to Prof. Zahid Rizwan, and Mr. Muhammad Saqib for their services to National Textile University.
At the closing ceremony members of the Textile Industrial Advisory Board and Faisalabad Dyes and Chemicals Merchants Association have presented appreciation certificates for their invaluable services to the School of Engineering & Technology. Souvenirs were also presented to all the organizers and co-organizers to make this conference a huge success.
