Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir has declared full support for the declining handmade carpet sector in the country, approving Rs 7.5 million for the 33rd international Pakistan hand knotted carpet exhibition being held from October 6-9, 2015 in Lahore.
The minister announced this in a meeting with the delegation of Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA), consisting of exhibition committee chairman Major (r) Akhtar Nazir Khan Cooki, exhibition chief organiser, Qamar Zia, and PCMEA chairman Usman Ghani.
The minister said the government was working with the people in the carpet industry to make the business environment more export-friendly. He noted that due to absence of incentives, political instability and energy shortage, the export of Pakistan-made carpets had fallen from $300 million to $120 million in last five-six years.
Khurram Dastgir said the government was determined to facilitate hand-knotted carpet industry, resolving issues ranging from infrastructural shortcomings to skill and product development and research to enhance trade volume for economic stability and growth.
On this occasion, Major (r) Akhtar Nazir Khan Cooki said it was encouraging for the exporters to have a long meeting recently with the PM to discuss as to how export of the country could be improved. He appreciated the commerce minister for assuring full support for boosting industrial production and especially approving such a record package of Rs 7.5 million to conduct Pakistan Carpet Show with a view to promoting handmade carpet export.