How to facilitate sound chemicals management in Pakistan's textile and garment industry

The sustainable management of increasingly scarce water resources is a substantial challenge that requires the concerted effort of all stakeholders. This is particularly true for Pakistan’s economically important textile and garment industry, which uses large quantities of water and chemicals.

As part of the Water Efficiency in the Textile Industry (WETI) programme, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) supports the Government of Pakistan to implement Pakistan’s federal action plan for reducing climate change-induced water risks by developing specific measures to increase water efficiency in the textile and garment industry. A key element of the measures involves facilitating a culture of collaboration between stakeholders (e.g. governmental institutions, private sector associations and textile companies).

Establishing a culture of collaboration - Key to incorporating sound chemicals management

As part of a workshop organised by GIZ in Berlin, Germany on 9 May 2018 in connection with a 10-day research trip, Dr. Jürgen Hannak, senior project manager at adelphi, guided 21 government and industry representatives from Lahore, Pakistan through the aspects and steps involved in facilitating industry-wide sound chemicals management. In addition to examining the challenges of incorporating sound chemicals management into the sustainable manufacturing framework, the discussions focused on what roles various stakeholders could and should take to ensure the adoption of sound chemicals management in Pakistan’s textile and garment industry in line with international best practices.

Challenges: Establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework and developing a strategic approach

The main challenges identified in the discussion related to the establishment and effective enforcement of a comprehensive regulatory framework, access to quality service support (e.g. laboratory, advisory and training services), and the integration of specific measures into a comprehensive strategic approach. In this regard, participants drew on experiences of chemicals management and stakeholder collaboration (involving federal ministries, governmental institutions, specialist agencies, insurance providers, industry bodies and trade unions) at different governance levels in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.