LAHORE: Pakistan’s value-added apparel industry has secured representation in the leadership of the International Apparel Federation (IAF), with former Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) chairperson Ijaz A Khokhar elected as the federation’s vice president.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, Khokhar is the first Pakistani apparel manufacturer and exporter to be elected to the post in the IAF’s history.IAF President Stefano Festa Marzotto announced Khokhar’s nomination, citing his long association with the federation and contributions to the global apparel industry. The nomination was unanimously approved by the federation’s General Assembly. The appointment was welcomed by PRGMEA, textile and apparel associations, chambers of commerce and business organisations, which said it would strengthen Pakistan’s representation in the global apparel industry and create opportunities for greater international engagement.
Founded in 1972, the International Apparel Federation is the global body representing apparel manufacturers, national associations and allied industries. Khokhar has previously served the IAF as an Executive Board member and Regional President. He is chief executive of Ashraf Industries (Pvt) Ltd, a Sialkot-based manufacturer and exporter of martial arts uniforms established in 1969. He has served multiple terms as chairperson of PRGMEA and currently serves as its chief coordinator. He is also a founding Executive Board member of the Asian Apparel Federation (AAF), a lifetime member of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a trustee of the Sialkot Dry Port Trust.
