Page 11 - 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
              provides fashion brands and retailers with the critical
                                                               manufacturers, became a U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
 on occasion, Javed said that if electricity and gas subsidies were withdrawn, the industrialists would lose their   information they need to show the cotton fiber   member – noting that it joined because it wanted to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.


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