The shoe manufacturing industry is one of the ancient and major industries of Pakistan which produces

high quality finished products and has a great potential to grow.

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Pakistan exports footwear to more than 60 countries in five continents of the world. Pakistan’s exports of
footwear have registered a high rate of growth in the recent past, the IRNA reported.

However with yearly exports of only $110 million, Pakistan’s share in global footwear exports is only
0.001 percent. All other countries in the region are exporting much more. These include India,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The economy of Pakistan is the 25th largest in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), and
42nd largest in terms of nominal gross domestic product. Pakistan has a population of over 200 million,
giving it a nominal GDP per capita of $1,641 in 2018.

Pakistan produces a wide range of footwear to cater for the needs of a variety of customers – men and
women, boys and girls, pedestrians and joggers, business executives and bureaucrats, office goers and
hawkers, squash and hockey players, cricketers and footballers, mountaineers and foresters, policemen
and soldiers and specially designed footwear for the disabled.

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Many factories have a production capacity of 2,500 pairs per day, while the larger units produce as much
as 10,000 pairs per day. It includes leather, textile and synthetic shoes.

Bulk of the exports, about 80% are of leather shoes in the medium price range of 9-12 US Dollars and are
very competitive in the international market.

The industry is in constant touch with the developments occurring in the modern footwear technology
and technical know-how, especially in Europe.
Pakistan has inherited centuries old craftsmanship of shoe making and its popular brands like ‘Khussa’ a
hand crafted footwear with thick leather used in uppers and soles and special stitching process, is still
exported in huge quantities.

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The main strength of the footwear industry is the availability of top quality leather in the country.
Pakistan is a hub for the production of high quality leather and the leather goods industry is a big
contributor to the country’s export earnings.

Pakistan shoe making industry is predominantly located in and around city of Lahore, where almost 80
percent of the documented sector of the country is located. Other regions where shoe making activities
are good include Karachi, Faisalabad, and Multan.

The footwear industry is striving to reposition itself with a view to forming joint ventures with Chinese
manufacturers. Collaboration with Chinese shoemakers is expected to help the domestic industry access
new technology and improve labor skills, as well as boost exports.

Pakistan is also famous for producing Peshawari Chappal traditional footwear worn especially by
Pashtuns in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region