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Industry calls for structured delegation, pre-visit coordination to avoid past inefficiencies
LAHORE:
Garment exporters have urged that the prime minister’s planned visit to Russia, postponed due to the Middle East war, be undertaken only after full normalisation of the situation and with a clear focus on securing tangible export gains.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, former central chairman of the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Mubashar Naseer Butt, said the visit must not repeat past experiences where trade delegations produced limited results due to weak preparation and lack of follow-through.
Naseer Butt said the visit should be planned in advance with clearly defined objectives centred on export growth. He stressed that a comprehensive delegation should accompany the prime minister, comprising officials linked to tariff policy, banking channels, currency mechanisms and logistics. He added that all relevant institutions must complete groundwork beforehand to ensure discussions during the visit translate into immediate, implementable decisions.
He also underscored the need for active involvement of Pakistan’s embassy in Moscow, urging diplomatic and trade officials to coordinate with Russian counterparts ahead of the visit to ensure meaningful engagements. Naseer Butt said previous trade visits failed largely due to poor coordination among departments, adding that a unified and proactive approach was essential this time.
He observed that Russia remained a strong and stable economy with consumer standards comparable to, and in some sectors higher than, those of the European Union and the United States. He noted that Russian buyers were willing to pay premium prices for quality products, making it a promising market for Pakistan’s garment and textile exports.
Highlighting fashion exports, he said Russian consumers showed strong interest in design and trends. He urged the government to facilitate Pakistani designers and exporters by expediting visa processes and supporting participation in international platforms.
Currently being held in Moscow from March 14 to 19.
