Chairman of Interloop Limited (PSX: ILP) Musadaq Zulqurnain on Sunday said Pakistan’s apparel and value-added garment sector offers the fastest route to increasing exports.
In a post on X, he said that the country already has the industrial base, operational expertise, and international market connections to capitalize on this segment. “If policy irritants are removed and a level playing field ensured, the sector can deliver meaningful results quickly,” he said.
Zulqurnain warned that short-term gains should not overshadow long-term capacity building. He urged diversification into other manufacturing domains through decisive investment in skill development for Pakistan’s growing youth population. “The demographic dividend will only materialize if the workforce is equipped with future-ready competencies,” he added.
He also mentioned structural challenges, particularly in the energy sector, as key constraints on sustained investment. He called on policymakers to signal that manufacturing is a national priority to encourage both domestic and foreign investors to commit to value-adding industries.
The executive added that without addressing these fundamentals, Pakistan’s export-led growth will remain limited despite the potential of its industrial sectors.