Minister inaugurates three-day lifestyle, furniture exhibition

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Industries and Production Arshad Laghari on Friday inaugurated a three-day ‘Pakistan Lifestyle and Furniture Expo’, organised by Furniture Pakistan.

The exhibition would provide young designers and architects the chance to see the market trends, display their own work and improve their professional skills, said a press release issued here.

The event was attended by diplomats, government officials, leading businessmen, parliamentarians, representatives of Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce, professionals from the furniture industry and foreign delegations.

The government had devised an effective strategy to promote and enhance the compatibility of the furniture industry and craftsmanship of Pakistan in the international markets.

Furniture Pakistan worked under the Ministry of Industries and Production, which was the major component of the strategy as envisioned by the government.

According to the press release, the basic structure of the company was formulated in 2007-08, adding Pakistan’s wood industry was well developed and captured 95 per cent of the country’s total market for furniture.

The country had more than 700 units of wooden furniture, with Chiniot meeting 80 per cent of furniture demand in the country. In addition, Gujarat, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi were also considered as important centres of furniture production in the country.

The top 50 furniture brands would showcase their products at the event. Master Foam was the official sponsor of the event, while Master Celeste, Interwood Mobel, Decent Furnishers, Chinese Craftsman, Style and Comfort, Wood Castle, and others were the other major exhibitors.

During the exhibition, visitors would be given a special discount of up to 30 per cent on different items. Furniture Pakistan Chief Executive Officer Alamgir Chaudhry said that his organisation was making efforts to develop the furniture sector by working on capacity building of the workforce and transfer of technology.