Furniture sector has potential to contribute billions

Former Punjab governor assures of support to get industry status

LAHORE: Pakistan’s furniture industry has the potential to dominate global markets with its innovative designs, and can make contributions to exports if properly patronised, said former Punjab governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar.

Speaking at a meeting with Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chairman Mian Kashif Ashfaq, he urged the government to establish greater liaison with the sector to understand market conditions and requirements of the industry to protect, develop and promote.

Sarwar was of the view that this interaction is important to determine how Pakistan’s industries are faring and how they can be better supported. He said that due to imports, Pakistan has lost a huge amount of foreign exchange reserves, which can be helped by encouraging local industries to grow.

The former governor assured that he will support the furniture industry. He said he will encourage developing a comprehensive plan after consultation with stakeholders for giving industry status to the furniture sector to enhance its production capacity.

Also speaking on the occasion, the PFC chairman said apart from generic issues of infrastructure, lack of regular supply of electricity, transportation, availability of raw materials, the greatest challenge is in getting skilled labour.

“We recognise that there is a major gap in getting really skilled and qualified personnel for manufacturing. We have to sustain our economy with our own people,” he added. “We, currently, cannot compete with the Chinese market because of their prices, which is largely due to the availability of skilled labour.”

Ashfaq further added that patronage is very important. He stressed the need for the government and the Pakistani people to increase their patronage of furniture products made by the local industry.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2018.

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