Lahore: Chairman of the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA), Mian Atiq-ur-Rehman, and Vice Chairman, Riaz Ahmad, have announced that the recent international carpet exhibition held in Pakistan is expected to generate export orders worth approximately $22 million, marking a significant boost for the country's handmade carpet industry.
They said this achievement was made possible through the support and collaboration of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and expressed optimism that similar assistance would be provided for participation in three upcoming international exhibitions scheduled to be held in Trkiye and Germany next year.
Speaking at a meeting held at the association's office, the PCMEA leadership was joined by Patron-in-Chief Abdul Latif Malik, Chairperson of the Carpet Training Institute (CTI) Ijaz-ur-Rehman, and senior members Usman Ashraf, Major (R) Akhtar Nazir, Saeed Khan, Saad-ur-Rehman, and Faisal Saeed Khan, among others.
Mian Atiq-ur-Rehman and Riaz Ahmad noted that several large-scale export deals were finalized during the event, which would accelerate activity across all sectors of the handmade carpet industry in the coming months. However, they urged the government to address ongoing issues at the Torkham border, as partially processed raw materials are imported from Afghanistan. They warned that recent border tensions and closures could delay production and shipments, negatively impacting export schedules and Pakistan's overall trade performance.
The PCMEA leaders added that the strong interest shown by foreign buyers from various countries had greatly encouraged manufacturers and exporters, which would have a lasting positive effect on the sector.
During the meeting, CTI Chairperson Ijaz-ur-Rehman presented proposals to enhance the industry's international outreach by leveraging social media platforms for marketing and connecting with global buyers of Pakistani handmade carpets. It was decided to seek immediate recommendations for implementing these proposals.