Furniture manufacturers: Industry demands ban on imports

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) has urged the government to impose an immediate ban on the import of furniture in a bid to revive this industry as well as to fully exploit its potential for earning foreign exchange. Pakistan imported furniture worth Rs1.69 billion in 2015-16, which is a waste of hard-earned foreign exchange. PFC Chief Executive Mian Muhammad Kashif Ashfaq said the import of furniture items could also cause unemployment in the local furniture industry. Keeping in view the huge growth potential of the industry, the PFC head said, if special attention was paid, the furniture industry could contribute significantly to the economy and employ many people with varying skills in specialist furniture. The furniture export at the present level is very nominal and far behind the actual potential. This industry, combined with the handicraft industry, employs about 50,000 people.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2016.

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