LAHORE: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan met with a delegation of the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) to discuss the challenges confronting Pakistan’s hand knotted carpet export sector and explore immediate remedial measures.
The delegation, led by Patron-in-Chief Abdul Latif Malik and former Senior Vice Chairman Usman Ashraf, apprised the minister of serious disruptions in the supply of partially woven carpets.
They noted that these interruptions have made it increasingly difficult for exporters to meet international orders in line with contractual obligations. The situation, they warned, threatens Pakistan’s hard earned market share in competitive global markets and poses risks to valuable foreign exchange earnings.
The PCMEA representatives called for urgent government intervention to eliminate operational bottlenecks and streamline the supply chain to ensure smooth production and timely fulfilment of export commitments.
Highlighting the importance of the sector, Abdul Latif Malik and Usman Ashraf said the hand knotted carpet industry is among Pakistan’s oldest export industries and has remained a consistent source of foreign exchange for decades. However, they pointed out that exports have witnessed a decline in recent years due to multiple challenges, adversely impacting thousands of skilled artisans associated with the industry.
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