Pakistan targets silk self-sufficiency spurs rural employment.

Pakistan could significantly reduce its annual Rs 67 billion silk import bill and generate employment opportunities for rural women by producing silk locally, feel experts. Currently, Pakistan relies heavily on silk imports, primarily from China, for its textile industry, which forms a substantial portion of its exports. However, the country possesses the potential to cultivate its own silk by utilizing its abundant mulberry trees, primarily in Punjab province.

Mulberry trees, widely distributed across rural areas, serve various purposes such as making baskets, jams, and teas. They can also be utilized as the main food source for silkworms, whose cocoons yield silk threads.

The favourable hot climate in Pakistan allows for a 10-month growth period of mulberry trees, enabling multiple harvests of leaves annually. Moazzam Ghurki, President, Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI), highlighted the versatility of mulberry trees, emphasizing their potential for silk production alongside other uses.

Fang Yulong, Senior VP-PCJCCI that China, being a leader in silk production, could offer technical assistance to Pakistan. Chinese techniques, especially in mulberry cultivation, could be adapted to Pakistan's climate conditions.

Yulong noted the success of improved mulberry varieties in China, which increased leaf output by approximately 30 per cent. He also mentioned the possibility of exporting mulberry saplings and providing technical support to countries like Uzbekistan, which could be replicated in Pakistan with adequate water resources.

Overall, leveraging local resources and international expertise could bolster Pakistan's silk industry, reducing dependency on imports and creating economic opportunities domestically.