Pakistan’s carpet sector aims for ‘soft image’

Wants govt to help lure foreign investors; promote exports

LAHORE: The Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) has asked the government to focus on building a soft image in the global market, in a bid to attract international investors.

According to the association, the ministries of information, culture and commerce should be directly involved with the handmade carpet industry and should emphasise on enhancing exports by convincing buyers in Europe and the US to seek ‘Made in Pakistan’ tags on the hand-knitted carpets.

This was stated by PCMEA former chairman and chief organiser of the Pakistan Handmade Carpet Exhibition 2015 Major (R) Akhtar Nazir Cooki, who recently led a delegation of carpet exporters for a meeting with the Prime Minister.

Major Cooki said that it was encouraging for exporters to meet the PM, who devoted ample time for the carpet industry and listened to their problems.

“In order to recruit more international buyers, it is important to arrange as many exhibitions as possible.

“Unfortunately, Pakistan is presently participating only in two exhibitions - the Shanghai Domotex (China) and HanoverTex (Germany). The rest of the world is being neglected.”

The participation of the carpet industry has now been made costly as well, said Major Cooki.

He added that our main competitor, India, has been giving huge incentives to exporters and Pakistan should also follow this trend.

The government should form the Pakistan Handicraft Council to promote export, as the Indian Handicraft Council alone is exporting as much as Pakistan’s total exports.

PCMEA chairman Usman Ghani stressed the need for convincing foreign buyers in coming to Pakistan, which would negate their impression that bonded labour and neglect of women is widespread in the country.

He added that Pakistani carpet industry is one of the largest environment-friendly sectors, providing jobs to over 1.5 million people without polluting the atmosphere. Other potential importing countries should be made aware of the positive impact, the official added. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th,  2015.

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