Pakistan’s net textile exports rose by about $930 million to $11.48 billion in fiscal year 2026, from $10.55 billion a year earlier, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) said. Business Recorder and The News both reported the association’s figures, which credit Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) reforms and stronger monitoring for the improvement.
Gross textile exports were almost flat, edging up to $17.93 billion from $17.89 billion, so the net gain came mainly from lower imports. The textile import bill fell by $900 million to $6.46 billion, from $7.36 billion. Cotton yarn imports fell 40.17 percent in value to $451.55 million and raw cotton imports fell 43.28 percent to $1.53 billion, after cotton and cotton yarn were excluded from the EFS in August 2025. Cotton arrivals also improved, reaching 4.081 million bales by 15 October 2026, up 7.53 percent from a year earlier despite a 12.6 percent fall in acreage.
The distinction matters: the sector earned more net foreign exchange without selling much more abroad, by relying less on imported inputs. APTMA noted that imported inputs under the EFS are exempt from customs duty and sales tax, while locally made inputs face 18 percent sales tax.
Sources: Business Recorder, The News (APTMA). Written in our own words for information only.