The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCI) on Thursday urged the government to promote Research and Development for creative designing as Pakistani wooden furniture has a great export potential. President LCCI Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said this while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Khashab Furniture and Interiors.
He said that despite the massive influx of inexpensive Chinese furniture in the markets, Pakistani furniture is still admired among masses for its customary designs, durability and quality. He said that Pakistan furniture industry had enormous growth potential, the LCCI President asserted that the entry of Chinese furniture in Pakistani markets has formed an atmosphere of competition, which is healthy for the overall growth of furniture industry.
"We have excellent craftsmen and designers, who could virtually give life to a piece of wood. We have the finest wood available in the country," said Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, adding that it was entrepreneurs' inefficiency if Pakistan lacked behind in furniture manufacturing.
He said that the furniture industry had exhibited astounding growth during the recent year. However, the country was unable to tap the actual potential. He pointed that furniture exports from Pakistan were hovering between $8.0 million to $12 million per annum, which did not reflect even a friction of the actual potential of the furniture industry. The president LCCI said that furniture with calligraphic engraving had great demand in local and international markets therefore Pakistani craftsmen should focus on working in this particular area to earn the much-needed foreign exchange.
Sheikh said that the major buyers of the Pakistani furniture were the UK, US, Sri Lanka, the Gulf countries like Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, etc. However, he said that a little attention towards establishing a market other than these countries could also give quantum jump to Pakistani exports in the European Market.
He said that government should also allocate funds for the promotion of skilled labour in this sector as the shortage of skilled labour and lack of creativity were also hitting in a big way the export of Pakistani furniture that is best in the world in quality terms. The Chief Executive Officer of Khashab Furniture and Interiors Farid Jillani, speaking on the occasion, said that they were planning to export their goods to non-traditional markets in the world.