Union Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar to launch the Pashmina Promotion Programme and lay the foundation stone of Pashmina Dehairing Plant at Leh, Ladakh on October 8.

The government seeking to develop crafts of Jammu and Kashmir had proposed the Pashmina Promotion Programme (P-3) and a programme for the development of other crafts of Jammu & Kashmir in the Union Budget and set aside a sum of Rs 50 crore for the purpose.

Pashmina is a type of fine cashmere wool. The textiles made from Pashmina were first woven in India. The name comes from Pashmineh, which in Persian means "made from wool".

Pashmina shawls are famous throughout the world and exported to various countries. They are hand spun, woven and embroidered in Nepal and Kashmir, and made from fine cashmere fibre.