# India-Pakistan textile rivalry set to shift 2026-08-20T12:31:54+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet India holds a competitive edge over Pakistan in textile exports due to its large-scale integrated production and skilled workforce, allowing it to manufacture higher-value products. This advantage has attracted quality-conscious Western buyers willing to pay a premium for Indian textiles. However, the cut-throat competition between the two neighbours is expected to change soon. The report from NDTV Profit suggests that India's sustained investment in technology and infrastructure will further widen the gap, making Pakistan's low-cost model less viable in global markets. The shift could reshape South Asia's textile trade dynamics, with India likely to strengthen its position in premium segments while Pakistan may struggle to keep pace without major upgrades. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The textile sector is a major employer in both countries, with India's industry worth over Rs 1.5 lakh crore and Pakistan's around Rs 60,000 crore. India's advantage stems from its integrated textile parks scheme (SITP) and a skilled labour pool of over 45 million workers, while Pakistan faces energy shortages and outdated machinery. The real game-changer will be India's free trade agreements with the EU and UK, which could slash tariffs on Indian textiles by up to 20%, further eroding Pakistan's price advantage. Watch for the next round of FTA negotiations with the UK, expected later this year, as the outcome will directly impact this rivalry. ## Coverage - ndtvprofit.com Leads with India's competitive advantage without bias or opposition criticism This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: India, NDTV Profit, Pakistan, textile sector Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/india-pakistan-textile-rivalry-set-to-shift/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/india-pakistan-textile-rivalry-set-to-shift/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/