Pakistan is showcasing its textile sector at the world’s largest home textiles trade fair, Heimtextil 2025, with a record number of exhibitors and a significant boost to its export prospects. The event, which started on January 14 in Frankfurt, Germany, features 2,800 exhibitors from 130 countries, with Pakistan emerging as the fourth largest exhibiting nation.

This year, Pakistan’s participation at Heimtextil has reached unprecedented levels, with over 275 exhibitors showcasing their products – an increase of more than 10% from last year. The country’s national pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Commerce, includes 64 small businesses, marking Pakistan’s largest presence at the event so far.

“Heimtextil is vital to Pakistan’s home textile exports,” said Shafaat Ahmad Kaleem, Consul General of Pakistan in Frankfurt. “This year’s record attendance is expected to result in a significant increase in exports. Business meetings between Pakistani exporters and global buyers, scheduled for January 15 under the ‘Thread Connect’ initiative, will further strengthen these ties.”

Messe Frankfurt’s representative in Pakistan, Omar Salahuddin, expressed excitement at the scale of Pakistani participation. “This year the exhibition has a record of 275 exhibitors from Pakistan,” Salahuddin said. “With larger stalls and a better, more strategic location for our exhibitors, we expect to see a significant boost in Pakistan’s export potential.”

Pakistani exhibitors present a wide range of home textile products including towels, bed linen and clothing. Messe Frankfurt also provides marketing support to help these exhibitors access new global markets.

Exporter Syed Osman Ali highlighted the increasing opportunities for Pakistani textiles in western markets. “The export value of home textile products is already $2 billion and with the US tightening of Chinese products and cotton, Pakistani textiles are well positioned to capture more market share,” he said. “This exhibition is the perfect platform to tap into that potential.”

As the exhibition progresses, Pakistani exporters remain optimistic about the future of the textile industry, especially with EU sustainability rules set to come into effect between 2025 and 2030. Industry insiders revealed that approx. 30% of Pakistan’s textile sector currently meets international sustainability standards, a figure that needs to double by 2030 to remain globally competitive.

“This exhibition will help us plan production for the next six months,” said one attendee, “from the procurement of cotton to the logistics of delivering finished products. With stable costs of consumption and a strong rupee, it will be much easier to fulfill export orders.”