Gul Ahmed Shuts Down Export Apparel Business Amid Economic Pressures

Karachi – September 30, 2025: Pakistan’s leading textile manufacturer, Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Limited (GATM), has announced the closure of its export apparel business after years of financial strain and mounting operational challenges.

In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the company stated that its board of directors approved the decision during a meeting held on September 29, 2025. The move comes after a strategic review that highlighted continued losses in the export apparel segment.

According to the company, the export unit has been struggling with rising input costs, especially nominated fabrics, along with higher energy tariffs, policy-driven tax burdens, and a volatile exchange rate that has reduced competitiveness in global markets. Intense competition from regional textile exporters has further squeezed margins.

By shutting down this business line, Gul Ahmed expects to reduce borrowing levels, improve cash flows, and strengthen its focus on profitable areas such as home textiles, spinning, and weaving, which remain operational.

Gul Ahmed, a household name in Pakistan, traces its roots back to the early 1900s as a textile trader and began manufacturing under GATM in 1953. Listed on the PSX since 1955, the company also runs one of the country’s largest retail networks, with more than 40 outlets offering fashion, apparel, and home accessories.

The closure of its export apparel division marks a major restructuring step for the textile giant as it navigates Pakistan’s challenging economic and industrial landscape.