Page 10 - February-March 2021
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                     The new textile policy to be


                     finalized soon: Asad Umar                                                                                       Next, Byford &


                                                                                                                                   Advance Denim


                The textile industry is the backbone of Pakistan's GDP. The textile industry has been the focus of every
             Government. Textile Sector employs about 45% of the total Labor force in the country. The revival of the textile
                 industry in the era of the current Government is exceptional. The stakeholders are curious about the
                           upcoming textile policy, which could have a considerable impact on exports.                                  join US Cotton

             Asad Umar, Minister for Planning and Development, said at a briefing of business people and industrialists in
               Faisalabad that a new textile policy is being formulated, which will be finalized soon. The textile policy will
                         undoubtedly help the country maintain the current tempo, is nearing completion.                             Trust Protocol

                Talking about his meeting with Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company
               (FIEDMC) officials, he said it centered on issues hampering work in the Allama Iqbal Industrial Estate. He
                underlined that the Government was focusing on strengthening the manufacturing sector with Chinese                  Next and Byford are renowned brands of UK. The   data collection and independent third-party
                        cooperation in the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
                                                                                                                                    brands sign up to US Cotton Trust Protocol that will   verification.
                                                                                                                                    help them to source all cotton from responsible
              Umar requested FCCI President Hafiz Ihtasham Javed to prepare a comprehensive report on the business
             community's problems and their solutions to be incorporated into the budget for the next fiscal year. Speaking         sources by 2025. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol   Advance Denim, one of the top three Chinese denim
                                                                                                                                                                                     manufacturers, became a U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
                                                                                                                                    provides fashion brands and retailers with the critical
             on occasion, Javed said that if electricity and gas subsidies were withdrawn, the industrialists would lose their      information they need to show the cotton fiber   member – noting that it joined because it wanted to
                                         competitive edge in the international market.
                                                                                                                                    element of their supply chain is responsibly grown. It   source more sustainable fiber through this
                                                                                                                                    works by providing member brands with verified   sustainability initiative. Advance Denim joins more
                                                                                                                                    data on the sustainability practices used on U.S.   than 200 other Trust Protocol member mills and
                                                                                                                                    cotton farms, with participating growers collecting   manufacturers which play a key role in providing a
                                                                                                                                    data in six key areas of sustainability: water use,   more secure and transparent supply chain to brands
                                                                                                                                    greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, soil carbon,   and retailers.
              Pakistan lands an enhanced position on                                                                                soil loss, and land use efficiency.              Advance Denim stated that as a Trust Protocol

                                                                                                                                    Byford, founded in Leicester, UK with its origins
                                                                                                                                                                                     member, Advance Denim now can provide its
            World Bank ease of doing business index                                                                                 dating back the early 20th century, is dedicated to   customers with all-important confidence about the
                                                                                                                                    quality garments, reflecting a commitment to high
                                                                                                                                                                                     U.S. cotton in their sourcing mix. Recent Google
                                                                                                                                    standards of design and craftsmanship. Today, the   Trends data reveals that online searches for new
            As per World Bank’s latest rankings on ease of doing business for 2020, Pakistan has improved its position by           brand has more than 1,500 sales points in over 20   denim styles have increased exponentially over the
             28 points from 136 to 108 which is an unprecedented improvement, report said. After this integration, SECP’s           markets around the world. Byford said that “By   last year across the world, with a 1300% increase in
            eServices is offering one window facility for company registration with FBR (NTN registration), EOBI, provincial        working with them, we are now able to monitor and   ‘denim masks’ and 110% increase in ’denim cargo
             employees social security institutions (PESSI/SESSI), Labor Department and Excise and Taxation Department              track sustainability improvements, including     shorts.’
                                                   of Punjab and Sindh.                                                             greenhouse gas emissions. Our direction as a brand
                                                                                                                                    is to use more authentic and ethically sourced fabrics   Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust
             This improvement is primarily due to integration of SECP e-Services with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)            and the Trust Protocol gives us confidence the cotton   Protocol, said, “The Trust Protocol’s emphasis on
              and the Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) at the Federal level and with Business Registration             we purchase is from a more sustainable source.”  measurement and independent verification provides
                                      portals of Punjab and Sindh at the Provincial level.                                                                                           the confidence and trust that a brand is using
                                                                                                                                    Next’s 2025 target to source 100% of its main raw   responsibly grown cotton and producing a product
             As a result of this reform, number of procedures to start a business as recorded in the Doing Business Report          materials through known, responsible or certified   that consumers can believe in. With each member
               2020 have been reduced from 10 to 5 and Pakistan has been able to ranked at first in South Asia and 6th              routes means that it will only use cotton produced in   that joins, we have greater resources to help provide
                                            among the top ten reformers globally.                                                   line with key sustainability performance indicators.   tools and knowledge to U.S. cotton farmers to help
                                                                                                                                    The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol underpins and     them continuously improve their sustainability
             The administrative powers under the STA relating to operationalization of the STR have been entrusted to the           verifies sustainability progress through sophisticated   practices.”
              Commission through the Financial Institutions (Secured Transactions) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020. The
                       SECP, with financial support from DFID (UK), has launched the STR on April 30, 2020.


                February/March 2021                                                                                                                                                                        February/March 2021
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