‘Furniture industry possesses immense growth potential’

LAHORE – Despite the massive influx of inexpensive Chinese furniture in the markets, Pakistani handmade furniture is still admired among masses for its customary designs, durability and quality. This was stated by Kalamkaar Chief Executive Qais ur Rehman, while he was speaking to Pakistan Today, in an exclusive interview. Rehman asserted that the entry of Chinese furniture in Pakistani markets has formed an atmosphere of competition, which is healthy for the overall growth of furniture industry. He was confident about the progress of furniture industry and believed that this industry had enormous growth potential.
“We have excellent craftsmen and designers, who could virtually give life to a piece of wood. We have the finest wood available in country,” said Rehman, adding that it was entrepreneurs’ inefficiency if Pakistan lacked behind in furniture manufacturing. Rehman said that the furniture industry had exhibited astounding growth during the recent year. However, the country was unable to tap the actual potential. He pointed that furniture exports form Pakistan were hovering between $8.0 million to $12 million per annum, which did not reflect even a friction of the actual potential of the furniture industry. Speaking about the Kalamkarr, he said that in 1991, four craftsmen rented a garage with an aim to build strong bonds between heritage and contemporary world. Rehman disclosed that he is a designer by choice and always looked to establish equation among heritage, art and comfort through his furniture designs.
Currently, some 200 craftsmen were working at Kalamkaar. At Kalamkaar, each product is made with great attention as “we believe that furniture reflects the taste and lifestyle of persons,” he asserted. Pointing towards a centre table having some calligraphic work engraved on it, he said at Kalamkaar, they tried to use Islamic and poetic scripts in furniture manufacturing without compromising its utility. “We believe that it is a good way to establish relationship between the culture of Indus Valley and modern way,” Rehman said.
Responding to a query, he said that furniture with some calligraphic engraving had great demand in local and international markets. These products were bestsellers at Kalamkaar outlets in Pakistan and abroad. “Initially, we were surprised that people still want to be associated with their culture and tradition,” he added and underlined that only people, with a good taste of art and culture, were Kalamkaar clients. He highlight the need of tree plantation, stating that people were cutting trees carelessly and were paying heed that it was very harmful for the environment and furniture industry in the country.
He said that considering it a corporate social responsibility, Kalamkaar was running different tree plantation campaigns and it had planted some 100,000 trees during the last 15 years, he pointed. Speaking regarding the role of academia, he said that the National College of Arts (NCA) and some other institutes were doing great work in producing creative human resource. However, a lot more needs to be done. He disclosed that Kalamkaar was also providing technical skills and education to the children of craftsmen, working with it. A school had been setup in the factory premises, where these young students learn contemporary education and get hands on experience of furniture making, he said.