The 14th edition of Pakistan Lifestyle Furniture Expo was inaugurated at Karachi here on Friday. This three-day event is being held at Expo Centre.

This event was attended by officials from government departments, businessmen and stakeholders of the furniture industry. The top 50 furniture brands of Pakistan are displaying its products in the exhibition.

This exhibition is providing a great opportunity to Karachiites to experience the products of top 50 furniture brands under one roof and enjoy special discount offers. Around 50,000 visitors are expected to visit the exhibition. This exhibition is providing younger designers and architects to see the market trends and display their own work alongside that of mere established professionals. Pakistan's wood industry is well developed that caters 95% of local demand. The country has more than 700 units of wooden furniture.

Director of Pakistan lifestyle furniture expo said that import of furniture items could create a viable threat of unemployment in local furniture industry. The furniture industry in Pakistan has great potential as it can be both a labor intensive and capital-intensive sector.

The skilled craftsmen can create unique pieces while large scale factories can produce many identical units in both cases adding to the employment. He said local furniture industry has a great potential and there is only a need of the patronization of the government and if furniture sector will be given a status of an industry, he is optimistic that it will bring multiple socio-economic benefits. He further demanded that the government must provide subsidies for growth of furniture sector especially in the preliminary stages besides removing hurdles in the promotion of furniture sector in Pakistan.