Garment, textile machinery, accessories: expo opens in Lahore

LAHORE: Pakistan’s largest garment, textile machinery and accessories exhibition opened in Lahore on Thursday, drawing more than 550 companies from 30 countries.

Punjab Minister for Industries and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain on Thursday inaugurated a four-day exhibition of garments, textile machinery and accessories at the Expo Centre in Johar Town, billed as the largest event of its kind in Pakistan. The exhibition runs until October 18 and features more than 550 companies from 30 countries.

After the opening, the minister toured several stalls and took keen interest in the products on display. He was accompanied by Saleem Khan Tanoli, Chief Executive Officer of Fact Exhibitions (Pvt.) Ltd, and congratulated the organisers on holding the event successfully.

Speaking to reporters, he said such exhibitions play a key role in boosting business activity and strengthening business-to-business (B2B) linkages. He described the textile sector as vital to the national economy and to job creation. He said the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, had taken practical steps to support the sector, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art Garment City at Quaid-e-Azam Business Park in Sheikhupura.

The minister said work was under way with China on cotton seed development to raise cotton output. He added that investment agreements with several Chinese companies had been signed during his visits to China, and six of them were already being implemented. He also said several two-wheeler electric vehicle manufacturing units had been set up in Punjab, with more plants on the way, while factories for lithium battery production were also being established.

Answering a question, he said hydropower projects of 20 megawatts each could be built along Punjab’s canals, which could help bring down electricity prices. The provincial government, he said, was planning small hydropower projects along the canals.

On the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said the worsening law and order situation had made emergency measures necessary. He said a single political party had ruled the province for years without delivering for its people. He further alleged that the government before the caretaker administration had done little beyond plundering public resources, claiming commissions were taken in development projects, which undermined infrastructure work.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026