NWFP government to assist walnut furniture makers

The NWFP government has extended full support to Dir Furniture Association in promotion of their specialised in manufacturing of walnut furniture.
The assurance in this connection was given by the NWFP minister for health, Inayatullah Khan while addressing a meeting of Dir Furniture Association here at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Thursday. President, SCCI Adeel Rauf was also present on the occasion.
Addressing the meeting the minister agreed with the suggestion of the holding of the exhibition of the walnut furniture. However, he said that venue and date of the event would be announced later.
He assured to extend all out co-operation and assistance to impart training to the manufacturers in order to upgrade their manufacturing skill by making their products worth exportable.
He told that Dir upper district is bestowed with God gifted walnut trees which could be properly exploited by facilitating the manufacturers.
He suggested that establishment of training institute in Dir would certainly promote human resources development in this backward region of the province. He agreed that the furniture in Dir upper was not of international standard, however, it could be taken to that height by providing technical expertise to the talented youth.
Inayatullah said, Dir upper district possesses enormous tourism potential which the present government wanted to tap it to its optimum level.
President of Dir Furniture Association Sahibzada Fasihullah in his remarks said, the furniture industry in Dir upper is active since 1960 and as of now, there are over 200 furniture units. Dir Area Development Project, he said, gave it the status of industry.
Hundreds of families are associated with this sector in the district which is faced with certain problems due to lack of proper skill.
He said, big shopping plazas and markets in Karachi and Lahore sold walnut furniture's at exorbitant prices and added that "we also want to establish modern technical furniture units in Dir upper".
President of SCCI Adeel Rauf on this occasion, urged the furniture manufacturers of Dir upper to participate in the exhibitions being arranged by the Sarhad Chamber from time to time.
He demanded establishment of technical institutes in Dir and Swat districts to flourish this industry on sound footings.