Pakistan’s textile sector struggles to bounce back

Power issue: A worker operates a machine at a textile factory in Faisalabad. Pakistan is the world’s fourth-largest cotton producing country but interminable power and gas cuts have stopped exporters from producing their orders on time. — AFP

FAISALABAD: As Pakistan slowly emerges from a long-term power crisis, its once booming textile sector is scrambling to find its feet – but high energy costs and a decade lost to competitors mean recovery is far from assured.

Energy production was severely depressed for more than 10 years due to chronic under-investment, inefficiencies in the power network and an inability to collect sufficient revenue to cover costs.