Woolen Textile Industry

Sheep rearing and manufacturing of woollen cloth, blankets and other products like shawls and carpets etc., is one of the oldest occupation in the sub-continent, specially in mountainous areas of Pakistan. This was because raw material was easily available and due to’ cold mountain climate woollen cloth and products was their domestic need. Therefore hand looms woven woollen cloth is being manufactured for thousands years back, and is still in practice in northern hilly areas of Pakistan.

Like all other industrial establishments, woollen textile mills were also established in big industrial cities. So, at the time of partition (1947) Pakistan’s share was only a small woollen mill and a number of cottage industries and it produced a small quantity of blankets, carpets, shawls and tweeds.

At the early years of Pakistan’s independence, Pakistan had to import worsted and woollen goods from foreign countries. A woollen mill named “Valika woollen Mill” was first established at Karachi in 1949. Today with more than 70 large, medium and small units, Pakistan has become self-sufficient in woollen hosiery, shawls, blankets, cloth and carpets. The import of worsted and woollen goods has largely been reduced and carpets and worsted yarn are exported.