Page 20 - TEXtalks July-August 2021

MoU signing between
20 21
Gul Ahmed Textile and

National Textile University

The combination of industry and academia is In the ceremony, the following members were part of
inevitable for the growth of both organizations. this event;
Industry cannot come up with innovative products From Gul Ahmed: Wasif Sattar – Director HR GTML,
unless an idea comes from academia. Academia Sajida Qurban – Manager HR, Muhammad Awais –
cannot generate ideas without market requirements DM PD, Nasir Ibrahim – ME PD
provided by the industry. From National Textile University, Prof. Dr. Khalid
Pasha – Director NTU Karachi Campus, Dr. Qamar
Unfortunately, the gap between industry and Khan – Chairperson Dept. of Textile, NTU Karachi
academia has never been a prime focus for both Campus and media persons.
organizations in Pakistan. Although, a few universi-
ties and industries are trying to mitigate this gap. According to the MoU, GTML will work with NTU as
The industry and academia should collaborate to an industrial partner in different projects. Both NTU
develop new products developments. and GTML will work jointly to organize research
during this understanding.
In keeping view, the gap between industry and
academia, Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Limited (GTML) GTML will provide BS, MS, and Ph.D.-based Global cotton update and
and National Textile University (NTU) have signed a research projects. The academic faculty and
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Gul students will work on them. GTML will also offer
Ahmed Textile Mills on 6th July 2021. internship programs for NTU students that will be
co-supervised by NTU and GTML. Both parties will Pakistan’s scenario
The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Tanveer Hussain - mutually decide the topics for the internship
Rector NTU and Akhtar Saeed - Director Marketing program. GTML will facilitate industrial visits of
& Sustainability GTML. students for their better exposure. Cotton is an important fiber in the world of textiles, area. West African nation Togo has witnessed a 43%
and it is grown in more than 100 countries. Cotton is cotton production drop in 2020-21.
a heavily traded agricultural commodity, with over
150 countries involved in exports or imports of In Pakistan, the trend is similar to the world; decline
PRGMEA discussed to creat sustainable cotton. According to the market analysis report, the in cotton production. The state bank of Pakistan
worldwide cotton market was US$ 38.54 Billion in
(SBP) noted that the secular decline in cotton
2020. The cotton market is expected to reach US$
manufacturing environment for industry 46.56 Billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 2.74% from production needs to be addressed in the agriculture
sector. Sindh province is also facing less production
2020 to 2027. Pakistan, India, China, and the USA
are the primary producers of cotton. of cotton per hectare due to various crises. The
country produced barely 5.6 million bales in FY21.
Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) has discussed various According to trending economics, cotton futures Despite higher orders and several incentives
issues with the sitting Aslam Iqbal, Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce. PRGMEA is the premier rose towards 88 cents a bushel on July 17th, 2021, provided by the government to boost exports,
trade organization representing the Readymade Garment Industry in Pakistan.
the highest since May 12th amid expectations of insufficient cotton production and imported lint
lower supply and increased demand from the textile nullified the efforts of the textile sector. The increase
The primary objective of PRGMEA is to safeguard the interests of readymade garment exporters and create a
sustainable manufacturing environment. The delegation discussed the issues of property tax, city government industry as countries continue re-opening efforts. in taxes and low cotton production has created a
World cotton stocks are projected at 89.3 million
tax, Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), social security, and others that came under discussion. The difficult situation for farmers and ginners who plan to
delegation also acknowledged the minister’s efforts in providing better facilities to the business community. bales at the end of 2021/22, the lowest in three strike if they do not accept their demand for
years. Meanwhile, global production is forecast 5%
Chairman Adeeb Iqbal Sheikh led the PRGMEA North Zone delegation. abolishing taxes.
higher at 118.9 million bales but still set to remain
below 2019 record levels. Output is expected to
The minister assured the delegation of resolving their genuine issues and directed the additional secretary of decline in China as the industry becomes less Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) Pakistan
commerce to coordinate with the departments concerned immediately to resolve the issues of the garment competitive with rising labor costs. On the other has allowed the import of 200,000 bales of cotton to
sector. The minister said the government’s industrialist-friendly policies were yielding positive results. The hand, high cotton yields are projected in the US, meet the requirements of the textile industry and
world-class development works were in full swing in Quaid-e-Azam Business Park, and a multipurpose made about Rs116 billion non-cash book
business center was also being set up there. The investment of the garment sector in the Quaid-e-Azam Brazil, Australia, and Pakistan due to favorable adjustment in various public sector power producers
weather conditions and the increasing harvested
Business Park would be welcomed. to contain circular debt.
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