AI is learning women, not just images
It began innocently, a viral ‘Saree Portrait’ trend sweeping through South Asia. Women across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka uploaded their photos to AI apps that transformed them into…
Exports running on borrowed time
Pakistan’s trade profile stands at a critical juncture. More than 55 percent of the country’s exports come from textiles, and over 80 percent of these are destined for just three…
Why emphasis on export-led growth becomes imperative
In the expansive arena of economic governance, Ludwig von Mises’ profound assertion resonates: “If one rejects laissez-faire on account of man’s fallibility and moral weakness, one must, for the same…
The need for policy reforms
Industrial economic size refers to the scale or size of industrial activities within an economy, typically measured by the total output, employment, or capital investment of the industrial sector. It…
Achieving ‘$50bn’ textile exports in 4 years
Pakistan’s textile industry is on an upward trajectory with the addition of $500 million per month through incremental capacity. This has been enabled through TERF (temporary economic refinance facility) and…
Textile sector: removing structural inefficiencies
The textile sector continues to steer Pakistan’s economy through difficult conditions, consistently outperforming other sectors and adding value. Textile and garment exports increased by 23 percent year on year to…
Actualizing budget targets
The task of preparing a perfect budget is challenging in normal times. Today, when coronavirus is ravaging the world economy and uncertainty is at an all-time high, the task is…
Exports for economic growth
Trade and technological advancements provide the fundamental impetus for sustainable economic growth. Nations that are more open to international trade and more advanced in technology have proactively achieved high levels…
Decline in China’s exports
Coronavirus has brought the Chinese economy and polyester and textile industries in the country under pressure. Parallel to the 2003 SARS crisis, polyester demand could decrease as business activities stopped.…
Protectionism vs productivity
Pakistan has the world’s seventh-most protected economy. The country’s inward oriented trade policies have served as a substantial roadblock to integration in regional and global value chains. This is evidenced…
