By Gaiti S. Hussain

Well-heeled, well-versed and well-traveled, Ishtiaq Baig, vice Chairman, Baig Group of Companies, is a well-known name in Pakistan. Whether you see him playing host at a diplomatic do as the Honorary Consul General of Morocco for Sindh or at a fundraiser for his NGO, Make a Wish foundation, which helps kids living with life threatening medical conditions, or read his column in the daily Jang… his name is everywhere. Among his many awards and accolades, he was also declared among the most well dressed personality of the country in 2004 by the National Council for Culture and Arts. From conferences to parties, this is one business who knows how to dress for the occasion. We sneak a peak into his style fundas…

Saadia Qamar talks to Ishtiaq Baig to discover challenges being confronted by the textile sector and the potential of growth in textile exports and its value addition.

Q: how do you see performance of textile sector in Pakistan?

A: Pakistan’s performance in textile sector, especially in value-added products has been the worst in the region despite having competitive advantage as apparel exports from china, India, Bangladesh and  Sri Lanka remained higher than Pakistan though the last two countries do not have basis textiles nor they produce cotton. T could be said that Pakistan is serving other nations to earn more foreign exchange from export of value-added products.