Pakistan to Promote Digital Technology and Industry-Academia Collaboration to Boost Fashion and Textile Exports

*LAHORE, October 14:* The third meeting of the Board of Industrial Collaboration to Enhance Fashion Exports (BICEFE) discussed key initiatives to boost Pakistan’s fashion and textile exports, strengthen digital design and brand development capabilities, and enhance collaboration between industry and educational institutions.

The meeting was held on Wednesday at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD) under the chairmanship of BICEFE Chairman Muhammad Kashif Ashfaq. PIFD Vice Chancellor Hina Tayyaba Khalil, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive Officer Fayaz Ahmed Chadhar, board members, and senior faculty members attended the meeting.

The participants reviewed the strategic plan for 2026–2028, which aims to develop PIFD’s Design and E-Commerce Centre into a central hub serving Pakistan’s fashion, textile, and export industries.

The meeting also appreciated the completion of specialised training programmes in digital design and brand development by leading companies, including Nishat Mills, Sapphire Denim, Interloop Denim, and Naveena Exports.

On the occasion, Muhammad Kashif Ashfaq announced that the ChenOne Group of Industries would sponsor the expenses of a delegation’s visit to Türkiye. The visit aims to study Turkish design centres, benefit from international experience, and identify best practices that could be adopted to modernise Pakistan’s fashion and design sector.

The participants also discussed upgrading the technical equipment at the Design and E-Commerce Centre, introducing software for forecasting global fashion trends, including WGSN, and recruiting specialised technical staff to enhance the centre’s operational capacity.

The meeting emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry to equip Pakistani professionals with advanced digital skills, improve product development and branding standards, and enhance the competitiveness of Pakistan’s fashion and textile products in international markets.

The proposed initiatives are expected to help bridge technological gaps in the fashion and textile sectors, encourage innovation, and align Pakistan’s industry with the evolving requirements of global markets.