SPOTLIGHT ON PAKISTAN
Manufacturers From Pakistan Build Strong Export Business in the International Textiles Industry

Pakistan has a long and rich history of offering high quality textiles to the world market. Manufacturers are investing heavily in state-of-the-art technology and product development in order to better serve the needs of discerning consumers. Many producers in Pakistan have developed strong relationships with customers in the United States and are looking to build that business by showing at Global Home Textiles® in Las Vegas May 6 to 8, 2008. Following is an in-depth look at just a few of these suppliers:

Sapphire Increases Presence In Global Textiles Industry

Sapphire is developing a worldwide presence in the home textiles industry through investments in product development, promotion and technology.

Founded in 2002 as a public limited company, Sapphire offers a wide variety of home fashions, including sheet sets, comforter and duvet sets, curtains, kitchen textiles and aprons, table linens and upholstery fabrics. "We are one of the largest vertically integrated textile groups in the country, specializing in spinning, weaving, yarn dyeing, processing, and cut and sew," points out Faisal Arif, marketing manager.

Under the direction of Imran Choudhery, general manager, the company has grown rapidly and currently has annual home textiles sales of approximately US $15 million. All of the company's textiles are produced for the export market.

North America is the company's most important export market, and the United States represents about 40% of the its business. "We are investing substantially to increase business in this part of the globe," asserts Faisal. "We are investing in all areas for the promotion of our business."

Based in Lahore, Sapphire operates a completely vertical manufacturing facility totaling 120,000 square meters, staffed by 350 employees. The company maintains a complete testing facility to ensure quality control on all of its products.

Sapphire is showing for the first time at Global Home Textiles in May. "We expect good business potential from this show," Arif notes.

Sapphire
Contact: Faisal Arif, marketing manager
Email: faisal.arif@ht.sapphire.com.pk
Tel: + 92 42 111 000 091 124
Fax: + 92 42 5321495
Web: www.sapphire.com.pk

Premier Towels Marks Its Mark in Global Terry Production

Premier Towels, one of the largest manufacturers of terry towels and accessories in Pakistan, is continuing to expand its business in the world marketplace.

Founded in 1975 as a family-owned business by three owners, Premier generates annual sales of more than US $8.5 million. Nearly all of its products are exported to major, large volume retailers in the United States.

"Our major export markets are the USA and Canada, out of which the USA has a major share of about 96%," explains Farooq Ehsan, managing partner. "We are currently targeting the U.S. market for direct exports, as we have the capability and resources to cater any bulk requirement of low- and medium-priced towels."

Headquartered in Karachi, Premier owns and operates more than 185,000 square feet of vertical manufacturing facilities with more than 500 employees. "The company is growing in all dimensions and we are continuously improving our quality system, social compliance and also expanding in terms of production capacity and product development," Ehsan points out.

Premier is targeting the U.S. market for major expansion. "Global Home Textiles is our third trade show in the USA and we are exhibiting for the second time at this show," Ehsan states.

Premier Towels
Contact: Farooq Ehsan, managing partner
Email: info@premiertowels.com
Tel: + 92 21 6921841 42
Fax: + 92 21 6924445
Web: www.premiertowels.com

Al Karam Highlights Superb Customer Service And High Quality Towels

Al Karam Towel Industries is focused on providing superior customer service and extremely high quality terry towels and accessories.

The company was founded in 1986 as a private limited partnership, and today has annual sales of approximately US $18 million under the management of Mehtab Uddin Chawla, chairman and CEO. The company is headquartered in Karachi, and has manufacturing facilities on more than two acres. Nearly all of the Al Karam's products are exported to markets all over the world, with the U.S. representing about 60% of the company's business.

"Because of our splendid record, exceptional customer service and superior quality products, Al Karam quickly became accepted as the preferred supplier of towel and terry allied made-ups around the world," comments Kashif Mehtab Chawla, director of sales and marketing. "We always look upon our customer as a partner and love to work on a long term basis. We highly value customer satisfaction and work closely with customers to maintain the highest quality control standards to meet their requirements."

Al Karam continuously invests in its business in order to maintain its leadership position. "We constantly endeavor to improve our processing, logistics and customer service department to please current customer and delight

new ones," Chawla explains. "We envision superior growth and diversification in our product range and customer care to further the interests of our customer, employees and stockholders. Al Karam aims to be the preferred supplier of textile products, providing its customers with exceptional quality products, all the while giving an unbeatable combination of quality and values."

The company is participating for the first time in Global Home Textiles in May. Chawla points out, "We are continuously trying to increase our sales volume in USA, and that is the reason we are participating in the Global Home Textile Show in Las Vegas this year."

Al Karam Towel Industries
Contact: Kashif Mehtab Chawla, director sales and marketing
Email: kashif@alkaramtowel.com , akti@alkaramtowel.com
Tel: + 1 917 207 9411,+92 300 8208869, +92 21 6881388 91
Fax: +92 21-6881387, 6881503
Web: www.alkaramtowelindustries.com

Homecare Textiles Spotlights Quality In Diverse Product Assortment

Homecare Textiles has established a reputation for offering a large and varied assortment of high-quality home textiles, including sheet sets, duvet covers, bedspreads, towels, robes and accessories.

Headquartered in Karachi, the manufacturer was founded in 1994 as a privately owned company and today has annual sales of more than US $38.5 million. "Homecare Textiles is a company dedicated to meeting the growing requirements of its esteemed clients throughout the world," states Saleem Moosani, director. "Our company is producing high quality products under the strict supervision of its skilled staff."

Homecare Textiles prides itself on its quality assurance and supplying high-quality products to customers throughout Europe, the United States and Canada, according to Moosani. "Our clients trust and satisfaction is allowing us to grow," he notes. Homecare Textiles operates completely vertical manufacturing facilities totaling approximately 550,000 square feet, with more than 450 employees.

All of Homecare's products are exported, with the U.S. representing about 60% of the company's business. The company is showing for the first time at Global Home Textiles in May. "We anticipate increasing our business in the USA, which is why we are participating in Global Home Textiles exhibition," Moosani remarks.

Homecare Textiles
Contact: Saleem Moosani, director
Email: homcrtex@cyber.net.pk
Tel: + 92 21 257 2910
Fax: + 92 21 256 3023
Web: www.homcrtex.com

Waqas Textile Concentrates On Quality Products, Dependable Service

Waqas Textile is offering a wide variety of high quality home textiles, ranging from a full assortment of decorative fabrics to a diverse line of finished home fashions.

The company was founded more than two decades ago as a manufacturer and exporter of fabrics and home textiles. Waqas offers 100% cotton fabrics, polyester fabrics, cotton/polyester blends and flannel in an assortment of constructions, including sateen, percale, dobby, twill, jacquard and duck.

Waqas provides sheets in thread counts ranging from 120 to 400 as well as a range of coordinating bed linens, including quilts, comforters, shams and bed ruffles. The company also manufactures window treatments, furniture covers, kitchen textiles and aprons, as well as hospitality linens and apparel.

"In today's competitive business environment, our vision is to be reliable, dependable and efficient," states Javed Aziz Khawaja, chief executive. "Our business goals from the very beginning have been to provide the best in prices, production and quality to our customers."

Waqas in headquartered in Faisalabad, and exports its products globally. "Waqas Textile is one of the best companies dedicated to the textiles industry, serving a variety of customers around the world," Khawaja notes. "Satisfying those customers remains the focus of everything we do. We are holding ourselves ready to meet the future challenges and endeavoring for new horizons of excellence."

Waqas Textile
Contact: Shafaqat Ali
Email: waqastex@waqastextile.com
Tel: + 92 41 2629471 73
Fax: + 92 41 2626100
Web: www.waqastextile.com

For more information on Global Home Textiles®, please click here.

For more information on global trends in manufacturing, please click here.