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An Interview with

Anees M Khawaja TEXtalks: Can you give some pointers on the history US cotton as a benchmark. But still the COTTON
USA™ brand has a value, similar to Supima’s brand
of Mahmood Group and the capacities of yarn
production?
value. Now more initiatives are coming in from
Anees M Khawaja: Mahmood group is the family
COTTON USA team, as they are bringing in a lot of
owned business, textile group based in Multan and
Director. Mahmood Group. it’s almost been 100 years since we started in 1935. advantages where we believe that we can create
niche product in the future also.
At the moment, we employ around 10,000 people. As
of the last numbers, we are the fifth largest textile
TEXtalks: With international brands, what is the
acceptability of the products that are being
exporters of Pakistan. With new expansions, we are
Pakistan hoping to increase on that ranking as well. manufactured by using US cotton?
Anees M Khawaja: The benchmark is the US cotton
and the small gimmicks coming in from other
TEXtalks: What part does US Cotton play and how
much cotton is being utilized by Mahmood Group on
an annual basis? regions, which as the world we want to promote, I
think it is predominantly US cotton which brings in
Anees M Khawaja: In total with our recent capacities, that niche and catch where brands are attracted
in Mahmood Group, we are touching around 175,000 towards this.
tons of cotton consumption annually, and with some
expansions with the recent policy given by the State TEXtalks: Do you know the initiative of the US cotton
Bank of Pakistan, we are probably targeting to go to industry towards sustainability (USCTP)? Your views
around 190,000-195,000 tons. Unfortunately, with the to supply sustainable products to your customers?
recent issues of Pakistani crop, we at the moment are Anees M Khawaja: Basically, sustainability and
also one of the largest importers of cotton in innovation are extremely important at the moment.
Pakistan. Our total imports are around 80-85% of our The US cotton industry have been the pioneers in the
consumption and being an advocate of US cotton for cotton world; and, the recently created a new
many years, I believe, around 45% of our imports benchmark of the sustainability programs. Now
would be of the US cotton. sustainability has to go with industry 4.0 innovation
as well. And we're expecting that the US cotton and
TEXtalks: What Key Advantages you are availing of CCI will be bringing in this versatility and this aspect
by using US Cotton? of sustainability to a much larger mass scale which
Anees M Khawaja: One of the most important we need as a nation and globally.
advantage by the US cotton is always the
contamination free aspects and if you are wearing a TEXtalks: Would you like to give a few words of
white shirt with a high-quality parameter, you can’t suggestions or a glimpse into what you would be
afford contamination at all. Very less cottons in the expecting in the coming future?
world have this aspect that they are machine patent Anees M Khawaja: I believe that sustainability has to
and also, they are contamination free 100%.But more work with industry 4.0 concept, we have been
importantly, I think the trust on the products and what evolving from industry 1.0 to 2.0 and now getting 4.0
we are buying, we know the quality is going to be where the right kind of automation is needed for us to
exactly the same because of the USDA standards excel, not just in our production facility, but as human
and the Green Cards classification elements which beings as well. We need to understand that if the raw
really top all others. material and cotton can be reused, we need to use it.
Sustainability would mean lesser consumption of
TEXtalks: How do you see the quality of US cotton water and the optimum utilization of the resources so,
for the production of your textile products? elements like Lead certification, water resource right
Anees M Khawaja: We always get a premium, but of allocation and then adding it to the right data, which
course, we also pay a premium for the US cotton. can be derived out of industry 4.0, is very critical.
There is always a niche products requirement, the These two elements will probably be helping us in
other crops in the world are trying to catch up with achieving the next step as the textile world.

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