LAHORE: FPCCI President Zubair Tufail on Friday said the government needs to take several steps like providing fiscal support for skills training and upgradation of machines with a view to boost labour intensive furniture sector besides awarding industry status to this sector for boosting export.
Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) led by its Chief Executive Mian Kashif Ashfaq at FPCCI regional chamber, FPCCI President Zubair Tufail said that local furniture sector attached great importance to national economy and could make a substantial contribution of billions of dollars export annually if government properly patronizes it on priority for boosting export of Pak-handmade furniture.
He urged the government to establish greater liaison with this sector to fully understand the market conditions and requirements of the industry needs for its protection, development and promotion. He said the government should also provide more visible support to furniture business in terms of simple and easily obtainable grants for exhibiting and traveling to trade shows and promoting Pak export as a success globally. He said currently, the textile sector was the country’s largest industry in terms of exports, exporting $14 billion worth of goods annually.
FPCCI President suggested that a programme for developing and promoting the furniture sector both in rural and urban areas could be feasible, and also stressed the need for implementing modern techniques which not only enhance productivity, develop skills of labour and meet requirements of local and global markets.
PFC Chief Kashif Ashfaq said there was great potential in Pakistan’s local furniture industry which needed a greater acknowledgment by the government. He praised the furniture carving industry of Chiniot, Gujrat and Gojra and said that it required the government’s support to get promoted internationally. He mentioned, “Around Rs 4 billion worth of furniture is imported but unfortunately, exports remain at Rs 0.7 billion, which clearly shows the condition of the local furniture industry,” he cited, while stressing the need to promote local industry.
He said that if the required support was given to manufacturers and brands to reach out to international market, Pakistan’s industry would contribute to the economy and furniture products would be considered leaders in the international market.
He said the PFC was playing a commendable role in bringing the latest technical know-how in Pakistan for promotion of local furniture industry, manufacturing of quality products, and competitiveness in the international market.
In order to boost furniture exports, he suggested, the government should take steps to curb ‘Sheesham’ wood smuggling in the garb of raw material, besides awarding the furniture a status of full-fledged industry. Secretary PFC Hamid Mahmood was also present on the occasion.
