Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) Hosts Delegation from International Cotton Advisory Council (ICAC) to Strengthen Sustainable Cotton Production and to meet the international quality and sustainability standards
Islamabad, February 1, 2025 – The Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) today welcomed a distinguished delegation from the International Cotton Advisory Council (ICAC), led by Executive Director Mr. Eric Trachtenberg and Director of Textiles Mr. Kanwar Usman. The delegation was accompanied by Dr. Yusuf Zafar, Vice President of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
During the meeting, PTC’s CEO, Mr. Shafqaat, shared that Pakistan was the 4th largest cotton producing country in the world just 07 years ago. Pakistan produced 14.81 million cotton bales in the year 2011-12 and it has come down to less than 6.0 Million bales in 2024-25. He shared that the numbers are alarming and presented the recent Council’s initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable cotton production in Pakistan. He highlighted the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), which aspires to ensure that 100% of cotton produced in Pakistan is traceable and sustainable. The figure is 14.81 million bales. Not 4.81. it was typing error. Please revise if shared. Regards
Mr. Eric Trachtenberg shared insights into ICAC’s global efforts and explored avenues for collaboration between ICAC and PTC to enhance cotton production practices in Pakistan.
PTC Chairman, Mr. Fawad Anwar, emphasized the critical importance of cotton to the textile value chain, stating, “Cotton is the most important raw material for our industry, and PTC is committed to leveraging all available resources to make cotton production sustainable in Pakistan.”
Dr. Yusuf Zafar expressed optimism about the partnership, noting, “The collaboration between PTC and ICAC, supported by PCCC, will play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable practices and improving the quality of cotton production in Pakistan.”
Mr. Eric Trachtenberg added, “ICAC is dedicated to supporting member countries in adopting sustainable cotton practices. Our collaboration with PTC aims to bring global best practices to Pakistan, enhancing both production and export potential.”
Mr. Kanwar Usman highlighted the technical aspects of the collaboration, stating, “By working together, we can implement advanced agricultural techniques and improve supply chain traceability, ensuring that Pakistani cotton meets international sustainability and quality standards.”
This partnership is expected to bolster Pakistan’s textile exports by aligning its cotton production with global sustainability benchmarks, thereby enhancing the country’s competitiveness in international markets.
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