A two-day exhibition and sale of fabric, home ware, fashion wear, jewellery, carpets and gifts by Pakistan's women entrepreneurs opens here on Friday at the Kensington Great Hall, Central London, to showcase the country's wide range of products.
Pakistan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Maleeha Lodhi has described the event as the first of its kind to be arranged in the British capital, which will promote products manufactured by small and medium entrepreneurs of Pakistan.
Titled as 'From Loom to Luxury', the exhibition will reflect the quality of manufacturing rooted in the rich heritage of Pakistan. It is being participated by nearly 50 women entrepreneurs.
According to the High Commissioner, Pakistan is generally known in Europe as the main manufacturer of towels and bed linen but this trade exhibition will show to the British people a wide range of other products manufactured in the South Asian country.
Some of the products on show include textiles, leather, marble, carpets, fine art crafts, herbal food while information on travel and tourism will also be available to the guests as well.
This exhibition will also provide a unique opportunity for the Pakistani women entrepreneurs to look for possible partnership with the British manufacturers and help them to gain market access in Britain. The idea of holding such an event was conceived by the Pakistan High Commission and with the active collaboration of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) it has borne fruit.
The High Commissioner noted that Pakistan had a 70 percent share of European market in towels and bed linen but the upcoming exhibition would enable other Pakistani products to be introduced in this part of the world.
Dr Lodhi also explained that the event would go a long way in changing the stereo type image of Pakistani women usually found in the West. "The guests coming to this event will be pleasantly surprised to see the entrepreneurial skills of Pakistani women in a wide range of products."