NTUF ramping up efforts to boost textile exports: Dr Rashid Masood

FAISALABAD, Oct 07 (APP): Rector National Textile University Faisalabad (NTUF) Prof Dr Rashid Masood said that NTUF is ramping up efforts to boost textile exports by expanding technical textile avenues and commercializing innovative research.

During his visit to the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), he congratulated the newly elected FCCI President Arif Ehsan Malik and emphasized that while NTUF focuses on value addition, industrialists must transition toward a knowledge-based economy to remain globally competitive.

Highlighting the potential of technical textiles, he noted that Korea established a $7 million technical textile center at NTUF, which includes a $3 million non-woven cloth machine currently being upgraded. Additionally, advanced textile testing facilities will open to the commercial sector within the next couple of months, he added.

To address the local decline in cotton production, Dr Masood stated that NTUF is fully equipped to provide technical expertise for manufacturing local bio and synthetic fibers.

He urged the industrial sector to take the lead in commercializing demand-driven research generated by postgraduate students and NTU’s Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC).

FCCI President Arif Ehsan Malik welcomed the collaboration and requested NTU’s support in declaring Faisalabad as Pakistan’s first “Textile Circular City.”

He noted that 60 to 70 recycling units are already operating in the region, which are critical for maintaining exports to the European Union.

He also praised NTUF’s proposed 10-year technical textile roadmap, advocating for a robust ecosystem and targeted SME loans to foster textile waste recycling clusters.

FCCI Senior Vice President Mian Muhammad Saeed, Vice President Muhammad Yasin, NTUF Clothing Department Chairman Dr Qamar Khan, and various executive members were also present in the meeting.