TDAP opens ‘International Exhibition of Handmade Carpets’

LAHORE: Declaring that “every single dollar is extremely valuable for Pakistan,” Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive Faiz Ahmed Chadhar inaugurated the 42nd International Exhibition of Handmade Carpets in Lahore on Tuesday, assuring the industry of full government support and promising to resolve its visa-related difficulties at the earliest.

Organised by the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) at a local hotel, the three-day event has drawn a large number of international buyers from the United States, Germany, Turkiye, China, Russia and Sweden, among other countries.

Senior officials and members of the business community attended the inaugural ceremony. They included Director Textiles and Leather Arifullah, PCMEA Patron-in-Chief Abdul Latif Malik, Senior Vice Chairman Northern Zone Khawaja Mir Mudassar, Vice Chairman Nadeem Sajid, Exhibition Chairman Riaz Ahmed and Carpet Training Institute Chairperson Ijaz-ur-Rehman. Former chairman Mian Atiq-ur-Rehman and senior members Usman Ashraf, Major Akhtar Nazir (Retd), Saeed Khan, Kamran Razvi, Faisal Saeed Khan and Sikanderine Hassan were also present, along with FPCCI Regional Chairman Zaki Ejaz and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Senior Vice President Khadim Hussain.

Following the inauguration, the TDAP chief executive toured the stalls and took keen interest in the high-quality handmade carpets on display, which feature exquisite and innovative designs. He praised the craftsmanship and skills of Pakistani artisans.

Addressing foreign buyers and industry representatives, Chadhar said Pakistani handmade carpets had earned a distinctive identity in international markets owing to their superior quality and attractive designs. He observed that the sector held significant potential that could be harnessed to increase exports further, and said the government was providing all possible support to the industry and would continue to enhance it.

Chadhar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was committed to building the national economy on the promotion of exports, and that maximum facilities and support were therefore being extended to export-oriented industries.

Acknowledging the challenges facing the sector, the TDAP chief said the government was fully aware of them. He noted that visa-related issues had also been raised during the exhibition and assured participants that efforts were under way to resolve them at the earliest.

Stressing the need for change, he said the handmade carpet industry would have to move towards innovation and that the gap between the public and private sectors needed to be bridged. The promotion of exports, he added, was consequently being given special priority.

Khawaja Mir Mudassar and Exhibition Chairman Riaz Ahmed welcomed the participants and noted that a large number of foreign buyers and representatives from different countries were attending the event. They expressed optimism that export deals expected to be concluded on a large scale during the exhibition would give a significant boost to the handmade carpet industry. They added that the keen interest shown by foreign buyers in Pakistani products had greatly encouraged local manufacturers.

The exhibition also features a stall showcasing handmade carpets produced by prisoners in Punjab’s jails.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026