Textile sector 'masking' its way forward.

Byline: Nasir Jamal

IF you had suggested to Ahmed Jahangir, the executive director of Nishat Mills, a few months ago that textile masks will be his company's new product, he would have snickered and retorted: 'Why? What has happened? Did I miss something?'

Today he says masks will now be a permanent part of his future business. 'The global demand for textile masks will not dry even when the virus contagion is over,' Mr Jahangir, told this correspondent.

Masks are now the latest fashion accessory and part of the lifestyle worldwide, not just another healthcare item. 'We are receiving large orders for all types of textile masks from major AmeriAcan and European brands,' he said.

Textile masks are the new garment for Pakistan's apparel manufacturers who have been hit hard by the unprecedented slump in the global demand amid the Covid-19 contagion that forced economies to shutter to halt the spread of the infection.

The garment manufacturers are tweaking production lines as global demand for masks spikes with governments ordering their citizens to cover their faces when they get out of their homes as the first line of defence against the virus. Pakistan has only recently allowed export of textile masks as orders from abroad pour in. 'There is a huge demand for textile masks out there at a good price. The demand is set to phenomenally rise when the countries lift lockdown restrictions and businesses reopen,' Mr Jahangir elaborated.

'Garment exporters are receiving serious inquiries for millions of pieces of caps, isolation gowns, overalls and other cotton-based protective gear from foreign retailers, governments and militaries every day. This is a big opportunity for us to partially make up for our export losses'

His is the first company to start mass production of textile masks in mid-March. 'We were trying to procure masks for 60,000 people working for different businesses, including MCB Bank, of the Nishat Group but couldn't find any supplier,' he said.

It was then he decided to manufacture masks. Initially, they thought of using non-woven material. But it's shortages made them look for other materials. He soon discovered that countries like Germany prefer masks made from woven materials for daily use by healthy people as protection against microorganisms and pollution. Non-woven materials or breathers like N95 are recommended only for hospital use by frontline health workers and caregivers working in a hazardous environment.

'Ours is the...