LAHORE:Leaders of Pakistan’s hand-made carpet industry on Sunday said that excessively high production costs and heavy taxation are jeopardising the sector’s survival pushing its products out of global competition.
Chairman of the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association PCMEA Mian Atiq ur Rehman and Vice Chairman Riyaz Ahmed urged the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to take immediate notice of the severe challenges confronting the centuries old trade and to issue concrete directives for resolving its longstanding issues.
Speaking at a meeting at the Association’s office, the PCMEA leadership stressed that participation in international exhibitions is vital for the growth of export oriented industries.The meeting was also attended by Patron in Chief Abdul Latif Malik Chairperson of the Carpet Training Institute Ijaz ur Rehman and other senior members. Despite domestic pressures the officials noted that Pakistan’s recent participation in the ICFE Carpet and Floor Coverings Fair in Turkiye yielded highly encouraging results.
They anticipate this success will contribute significantly to the revival and long-term stability of the hand-made carpet sector.
During the meeting, attendees congratulated Pakistani firms for winning the best mixed weaving technique design award at the international trade fair for the second consecutive year. Mian Atiq ur Rehman and Riyaz Ahmed said that the strong international appreciation for Pakistan’s carpets at the expo has infused new confidence and optimism within the trade.
They described the design accolade as a global endorsement of the exceptional skill creativity and rich traditional craftsmanship of Pakistani artisans. The PCMEA leaders revealed that the Pakistani delegation held highly successful meetings with international buyers during the exhibition leading to the conclusion of several important export agreements that provide much needed support to the struggling industry.
They said that Pakistan’s hand-made carpets received outstanding recognition at the global event for their distinctive designs, superior quality and traditional artistic value with the award proving that the nation’s products maintain a prestigious standing in international markets.
The leadership emphasised that consistent participation in global showcases and the expansion of export contracts will have a positive lasting impact on the domestic industry creating new employment opportunities and strengthening the national economy through increased foreign exchange earnings.
Concluding their remarks, they reiterated that the hand-made carpet industry was facing severe difficulties due to multiple structural and economic issues calling on the government to extend focused support to safeguard and promote this vital export sector
