FAISALABAD: The Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) has elected Rehan Naseem Bharara unopposed as its chairman for the next two-year term. Rizwan Ihsan and Haris Yousaf were also elected unopposed as senior vice chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Earlier, 24 members were elected unopposed to the Association’s Executive Committee.
PTEA Election Commission member Wasim Latif, while announcing the unofficial results on Monday, said that one nomination paper had been received for each of the three offices. Following scrutiny, all papers were found valid, and the candidates were consequently declared elected unopposed. The official announcement will be made at the association’s annual general meeting on Sept 26, 2026. The newly elected office-bearers will assume charge on October 1st 2026.
New PTEA Chief Rehan Naseem Bharara belongs to a prominent business family and is associated with M/s Umer Textiles, a well-known business network. With over two decades of experience as a professional management executive, he has established a strong standing in exports, business and industry. He also serves on the boards of several charitable, healthcare and educational institutions.
Outgoing PTEA Chairman Sohail Pasha congratulated the newly elected office-bearers and expressed confidence that they would strengthen the association’s role in advocacy, member services and institutional performance. He said that the new leadership would face significant challenges in restoring the textile industry’s viability and growth, and in creating an enabling environment to position Pakistan as an attractive destination for textile outsourcing. Highlighting the sector’s challenges, he said that sustained advocacy, effective lobbying, practical initiatives and innovative policy solutions were essential to keep the industry operational despite difficult conditions. As a major contributor to the national economy, he said, the textile sector’s leadership carried an important responsibility towards Pakistan’s economic progress.
Speaking after his election, Rehan Naseem Bharara said that leading the country’s premier textile association was both an honour and a challenge, particularly at a critical time for the industry. He said the textile sector, a key source of exports and employment, was facing serious viability concerns due to the high cost of doing business and Pakistan’s comparative disadvantage in regional production costs. Immediate remedial measures are needed to arrest this decline, he said, adding that the textile sector would have to play a central role in helping the country overcome its economic challenges. He called for close cooperation among all segments of the textile industry, including value-added associations, to restore competitiveness and place the sector on a sustainable growth trajectory.
Vice Chairman-elect HarisYousaf thanked the members for their confidence and pledged to work closely with the chairman and senior vice chairman to address the industry’s pressing concerns. He said the new leadership would prioritize unity within the textile sector, constructive engagement with policymakers and practical measures to improve exporters’ competitiveness.
The Annual General Meeting of PTEA will be held on 26th September 2026 and results of annual elections will be announced officially. Newly elected body will take charge of their offices from 1st of October 2026.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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