LAHORE: Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan on Friday said the government would provide a package of incentives and all-out support to the furniture sector to boost export as well as improve the quality and design of local handmade furniture at par with international standards.
Talking to media after inauguration of the three-day 6th Interiors Pakistan exhibition on Friday at Expo Centre, he said that made-in-Pakistan furniture is in great demand abroad due to its better quality and economical viability.
He said that holding of this type of exhibition and participation of international players promoted the soft image of Pakistan globally and attracted a sizeable number of other foreign investors. He said that entire credit of this mega exhibition goes to the top leadership of Pakistan Furniture Council headed by Mian Kashif Ashfaq.
He said that the government would fully exploit the huge potential of furniture sector and provide a set of facilities to impart training to workers attached to this sector.
Appreciating the efforts of PFC, the minister said it was a pleasant surprise for him to see variety of classy and outclass local handmade and solid furniture under one roof which has potential to capture foreign buyers in international markets. “Trade fairs are among the most important instruments in business-to-business communications and PFC is holding consecutively exhibitions in different cities of the country for promotion of the furniture industry,” he said, adding he said the government would provide all kinds of support to furniture producers and designers to conduct international exhibitions abroad.
He said Pakistan was moving forward in a better position to attract investment and it was highly appreciable that PFC was exerting full force to create opportunities for foreign investment in the country by creating business-to-business contacts with foreign furniture producers.
He said that Pakistan’s investment profile has been upgraded by all leading rating agencies on account of successful economic reforms and improved security situation.
He said that labour of this industry has great skills and potential and if used properly, there would be no hurdle for Pakistan to be among the countries that were best exporters of the furniture.
Replying a query, Khurram Dastgir said now there was no such policy under consideration to impose ban on import of furniture. He said when the government would find that exports of furniture has been increased remarkably and there was no such need to import items, then there would be a possibility of imposing ban on import.
Talking to media on the occasion, PFC Chief Executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq said more than 100 leading and medium companies displayed their products while four foreign furniture producers also exhibited their items. He said the response from public and foreign furniture producers was tremendous and he was optimistic that in coming exhibitions more foreign furniture producers would display their products in PFC exhibitions.
Answering a question, he said we are shifting our technology from handmade and solid furniture to machine-made furniture items. He said Pakistani furniture was a little expensive as compared to those countries that were producing machine-made furniture. He said most of the countries have great scope for Pakistani furniture, as they like Pakistani traditional hand-carved furniture designs with classic finishing and similar designs could be replicated in international markets, therefore efforts must be made to promote furniture exports by more regular participation in international shows.
“Pakistan furniture industry has made great strides over the past recent years. Owing to growing interior industry that has paved way for skilled workers, furniture manufacturers and interior designers have benchmarks that have attracted foreign clientele,” he added.
Talking about the philosophy behind these exhibitions, he said, “The vision behind Interiors Pakistan is to create a space for furniture display and promotion across the country. The national exhibitions groom local producers to access the international markets and increase their potential markets,” adding that this exhibition would also provide young designers and architects to study the market trends.
Ashfaq said PFC would hold its 7th Interiors Pakistan exhibition in Islamabad in March next year and they were also planning to conduct six exhibitions total in one year in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore consecutively.
Important exhibitors including Interwood CEO Malik Farooq, Charag Din and Sons CEO Shahbaz Aslam, Diamond Group’s Muddassar Shafi, Mohkam Furniture CEO Maqbool Elahi, National Furniture CEO Rizwan Ahmed and PFC GM Hamid Mahmood were also present on the occasion.
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