President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Engr Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz has urged the government to take pragmatic steps to resolve key issues of furniture industry to boost exports of furniture. SCCI president said Pakistan generally and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly had huge potential to promote trade and exports of furniture items and government should address key issues of this industry for its better growth.
He was addressing an oath-taking ceremony of All Pakistan Furniture Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, here on Thursday. SCCI Senior Vice President Shahid Hussain, Vice President Abdul Jalil Jan, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority provincial chief Rashid Aman, All Pakistan Furniture Association Central Chairman Zahid Hussain Khan, President Taj Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, the association provincial chairman, Ejaz Ali Shah, furniture manufacturers and allied industry people were present during the ceremony.
Maqsood Pervaiz said KP has diverse potential regarding furniture, especially cottage industry. However, he said due to pathetic attitude of previous governments and unfavorable conditions in the past, the businessmen attached with the furniture industry are facing severe hardships, which was also the major cause of declining exports of furniture products.
He demanded of the government to take prompt measures to resolve issues of furniture manufacturers on priority basis. Approximately 600 small and large furniture units existed on the Peshawar University road along with furniture factories in other parts of KP, the SCCI chief said.
He noted that the furniture industry had played a pivotal role in the country's exports. However, he lamented that the former successive governments didn't do much to give boost to this important industry, due to which it is declining rapidly.
Maqsood Pervaiz urged the federal and provincial governments to announce special incentives and grant for furniture industry as well as take proactive steps to resolve key issues of this important industry. He also demanded of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) to issue matching grants to the furniture industry on priority basis.
All Pakistan Furniture Association Central Chairman Zahid Hussain Khan, President Taj Muhammad Ahmed Waheed, the association provincial chairman, Ejaz Ali Shah, Smeda chief Rashid Aman and Mujeebur Rehamn also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, the SCCI president administered oath to the newly-elected office bearers of the All Pakistan Furniture Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter.
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