Pakistan looks to BRICS+ to boost trade

Pakistan’s fashion and textile industry is entering a new era of global engagement as the BRICS+ 2025 Fashion Summit in Moscow opens new opportunities for trade diversification and cultural diplomacy.

The event, supported by more than 50 of the world’s leading fashion weeks, has provided a vital platform for countries like Pakistan to showcase their textile art, innovation and craftsmanship to non-traditional markets beyond the West.

Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) hailed the successful organization of the summit and called for this international platform to be used to boost Pakistan’s trade and fashion exposure across Central Asia and Russia.

Mubashar Naseer Butt, former central president of PRGMEA who represented Pakistan for the third time at the summit, said the BRICS+ initiative presents an important opportunity to diversify Pakistan’s export markets beyond the West by creating stronger ties with fast-growing Eurasian economies.

“BRICS+ is not just an exhibition, it is a bridge between economies, cultures and people,” Bhatt said. “Pakistan has the creativity, manufacturing capacity and craftsmanship to excel in new markets. The summit allows us to showcase our textile heritage, from Ajrak and Pashmina to embroidered fashion collections, in ways that connect with global buyers looking for authenticity and diversity.”

The BRICS+ Fashion Summit, which brought together participants from over 100 emerging and established markets, also led to the establishment of the BRICS International Fashion Federation (BRICS IFF). Supported by dozens of international fashion weeks, the federation aims to promote cross-cultural collaboration, sustainability and innovation through design and technology.

For Pakistan, participation in such global platforms is crucial as it looks to reduce its dependence on the West. Textile exports, the backbone of the national economy, have reached $17.88 billion in fiscal year 2024-25, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. However, almost two-thirds of these exports are still destined for traditional Western destinations, mainly the United States and the European Union.

Bhutt emphasized that Pakistan is ideally placed to act as a trade bridge between South Asia, Central Asia and Europe. To convert this geographical advantage into tangible results, he called for the establishment of a Pakistan-Russia Business Council under BRICS+ and the creation of reliable banking channels to ensure smooth trade between Pakistani exporters and Russian importers.

He also urged for visa facilitation for business leaders and more structured participation of Pakistani brands in the upcoming BRICS+ fashion events.

Nisar Ahmed, a textile trader, said platforms like BRICS+ provide a much-needed space for Pakistan’s textile sector to evolve. “To realize the true potential of this platform, Pakistan needs to show the world its creativity while accelerating value addition in textiles,” he said. “Our competitors are already combining heritage with high fashion and technology. If we want to stay relevant, we need to invest in modern design capabilities, sustainable production and fast delivery models,” he added.

The BRICS+ summit also highlighted the growing importance of Fashion Tech – a sector that merges technology with fashion through innovations such as 3D clothing modelling, smart textiles and virtual fitting. Such developments, experts believe, can help Pakistan reduce production costs, improve design efficiency and align with sustainability standards increasingly demanded by global buyers.

However, experts agree that the future of Pakistan’s textile industry depends on how quickly it adapts to new realities. While cultural richness gives Pakistan an edge, the country’s real breakthrough lies in innovation, consistency and global exposure.

“Fashion today is about more than fabric, it’s about storytelling, technology and speed. If Pakistan brings all three together, the world will start looking at us not just as a maker, but as a trendsetter.” Ahmed said, adding that “this is the only way for Pakistan to increase its export earnings to $25 billion annually, a landmark figure, which is still a dream for the country’s vibrant sector.”