Punjab to improve trade environment

The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, is focusing on providing the best environment for trade and commerce, said Punjab Minister and Head of CM Inspection Team Muhammad Ajmal Cheema.

Speaking at the Pakistan Lifestyle Furniture Expo on Saturday, the minister said Pakistan’s wood furniture industry was well developed and it had captured 95% of the country’s total market.

“The country has more than 700 manufacturing units of wooden furniture in Chiniot, which alone meet 80% of furniture demand, while Gujrat is also producing world-class furniture,” he said. “Similarly, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi are also important centres of furniture industry.”

Speaking at the expo, Pakistan Lifestyle Furniture Expo Director Zahra Faisal said the furniture sector of Pakistan had great potential as it was a labour-intensive as well as a capital-intensive sector. Skilled craftsmen could create unique pieces while large-scale factories could produce countless identical units, in both cases adding to employment opportunities in the country, she said. She demanded that the government provide subsidy for the growth of furniture sector, especially in the preliminary stages, besides removing hurdles in the way of promoting the sector.

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mian Tariq Misbah said Pakistan had the potential to export wood furniture worth up to $1 billion if the government supported the furniture industry.

He said the export-oriented furniture industry and value-added sectors should be encouraged and facilitated by the leadership. Exhibitions always played a pivotal role in promoting products, and furniture expos should be organised on a regular basis, he said.

(with additional input from our Lahore correspondent)

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2020.

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