Pakistan makes big play for U.S. textile dollars

September 19, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan's top diplomat in Washington is making an aggressive play for American textile buyers, capitalizing on what officials describe as unprecedented opportunities created by recent global trade disruptions.

Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh wrapped up a three-day commercial blitz in New York this week, meeting with executives from Pakistan's textile giants, including Gul Ahmed, Nishat Mills, and Lucky Textiles, in a coordinated effort to capture a larger share of the lucrative U.S. home goods and apparel market.

The timing appears strategic. Trade sources say recent tariff shifts and supply chain realignments affecting other major textile suppliers have created openings that Pakistan is now moving quickly to exploit.

"We're seeing a window of opportunity that we cannot afford to miss," Sheikh told industry leaders during meetings that ran from September 15-17.

The ambassador, accompanied by Trade Minister Mohammad Hanif Channa, emphasized Pakistan's competitive advantages in home textiles and strong compliance record as key selling points to American importers.

The high-level trade mission included sessions with U.S.-based sourcing agents and importers, focusing on what officials called "practical strategies" to boost Pakistan's textile exports to America.

Pakistani manufacturers briefed the ambassador on persistent challenges including high energy costs and working capital constraints that continue to hamper competitiveness.

Sheikh pushed exporters to embrace e-commerce platforms and direct-to-consumer sales, pointing to early Pakistani successes in U.S. digital retail as a model for broader expansion.

The commercial offensive underscores Pakistan's broader strategy to diversify its export base and reduce dependence on traditional markets, with the textile sector serving as a key pillar in strengthening economic ties with Washington.

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