Hair too, Pakistan roots for China

Headway made in other spheres of cooperation between Pakistan and China is usually overlooked as the focus remains on aspects of their strategic defence deals. But there is more to their entanglement than defence and roads, as is evident from the news that Pakistan exported over one lakh kg of human hair to China in the last five years. This is another arena in which India is being sought to be outflanked by its western and northern neighbours acting in concert, while analysts split hairs about weapons’ specifications. India is the world’s leading exporter of human hair by volume, so it is not surprising that China has designs on that crown too, especially with the global wigs and hair extensions market expected to cross $10 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of more than 9%.

However, Chinese swatches are deemed coarse and Indian tresses the most natural and lustrous by those in the business. With subcontinental hair particularly prized in African countries — a very lucrative emerging market where extensions made of Indian locks cost twice as much as Chinese ones — Pakistan (with the same roots as India) lending a helping hank to its ally is not unexpected. Hopefully, the government has combed through the relevant facts and formulated a long-term strategy, as India clearly cannot afford to leave any split ends.