, which are generally more affluent than the rural areas, where the greatest increase has been seen in demand for ready-to-wear apparel. However, despite the increase in domestic consumption, the Pakistani government and apparel industry continues to emphasize the export potential for Pakistani ready to wear garments.
Since the ready-made garment industry is export oriented in Pakistan, it is a major source of foreign exchange and an industry which provides a high level of added value to the cash crop of cotton. Pakistan recognizes that a strong garment industry provides sizable employment opportunities, generates a high level of capital turnover, and, because of the level of technology and the types of technology used in the manufacturing process in Pakistan, poses little or no environmental hazards. Above all, the industry offers enhanced prestige and respect for Pakistan within the international community (Anwar, 1990, p. 19).
As a source of increased foreign exchange, the Pakistani ready-made garment industry is one of the major source of foreign exchange earnings within the Pakistani economy. Exports of ready-made garments from Pakistan grew steadily during the 1980s, from 5 percent of all exports to more than 10 percent of all exports. That shift represents a significant growth for the industry and increased the level of importance which the ready-made industry enjoys within the Pakistan economy. The following chart shows the growth of ready-made garments exports during the period 1981 to 1989 ("Exports of Readymade," 1990, p. 27):
It should be noted that the value of a ready-made garment is approximately three times the value of the aggregate amount of yarn in that garment with regard to the world market (Khan, 1990, p. 21).
In terms of providing employment opportunity, the fashion industry in Pakistan is highly labor intensive and employs both men and women. As of 1990, more than 150,000 workers were engaged i...