Why did Pakistan build textile mills after trade with India ended in 1949?

Following the cessation of trade between India and Pakistan in 1949, Pakistan initiated a major industrialization effort to process its own raw agricultural materials. The construction of cotton textile mills was a direct result of this shift, as the country sought to move away from reliance on external trade for finished goods and instead focus on domestic consumption and export capabilities.1

This development was part of a broader strategy to establish industries that could process local resources, which eventually expanded to include the production of sugar, paper, tobacco, and leather goods. These efforts laid the foundation for the country's manufacturing sector, which remains a significant source of industrial employment today.1