The meeting was an official platform to discuss sustainable growth for Pakistan textiles, improving competitiveness and compliance with international standards, particularly in Europe. These standards include the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which encompasses the European Union's approval of Pakistani products imported into Europe.The discussion brought together buyers, brands, manufacturers, government workers and employers organizations from GAP, Walmart, Target, H&M, Adidas, Levi Strauss, Inditex, Primark, Li & Fung, El Corte Ingles, PVH, Hema, and C&A. All companies in attendance confirmed a commitment to sustainable practices, improving compliance and reporting on environmental, and labor and health & safety standards in relation to the textile and garment sector in Pakistan.At the forum, Pir Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashidi, Federal Minister Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development told reporters: “We recognize the significance of Pakistan’s garment and textile industry to the country’s economic growth. The step towards establishing a buyer’s forum will help in making significant progress towards ensuring decent working conditions in the sector”.Also in attendance, the Netherlands' ambassador, De Vink said: “The Netherlands is in discussion with ILO regarding financial support to a major project to improve labour conditions in Pakistan. Strengthening the capacity of the inspectorate, the role of employers and workers in the factories, and the role of global buyers is very important in this respect.”Pakistan is the fourth largest producer of cotton with the third largest spinning capabilities in Asia at some 5% - behind China and India. Meanwhile, its garment and textile industry is the second largest employment generating sector for both skilled and unskilled labour in Pakistan. Following the meeting, Pakistan said its primary goal is to reach $26bn dollars in textile imports by 2023. In the lead up to the growth, the government has set out to create 10m new jobs and committed to subsidising its textile industry with $1bn per year, forecasting to double its exports in nine years.It is the first time an agreement of such ambitious nature has been made in the energy sector. Lacking large amounts of electricity, Pakistan has been suffering power blackouts capable of interrupting textile production, and therefore, inhibiting the trust of foreign brands and retailers to place orders in the nation.In response to the inconsistencies, the Asian nation signed an agreement at the beginning of December with Kirghizistan and Tadjikistan to alleviate this lack of energy. The news comes following a decision by the International Monetary Fund to refuse a fifth loan to Pakistan.Pakistan is the 9th biggest clothing supplier for the European Union, with 466m euros of goods delivered in 2013. The country saw a strong 29% increase in 2013, benefitting from the transfer of orders previously placed in China.