Govt assures support to boost hand-knotted carpet exports

February 19, 2026 (MLN): The government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s hand-knotted carpet export sector, assuring immediate facilitation measures to address supply disruptions and operational bottlenecks confronting exporters.

It emphasized that promoting value-added exports remains a key priority, citing the sector’s significant contribution to employment generation, women’s empowerment, preservation of traditional craftsmanship, and foreign exchange earnings, APP reported.

The assurance came during a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan with representatives of the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA).

The delegation, led by Patron-in-Chief Abdul Latif Malik and Senior Vice Chairman Usman Ashraf, highlighted disruptions in the supply of essential intermediates required for carpet production, warning that the situation was affecting exporters’ ability to meet international commitments and risking loss of market share.

They sought urgent government intervention to resolve the operational bottlenecks.

During the discussion, the minister called for institutionalized planning through structured secretariats under sectoral councils with clearly defined mandates and time-bound deliverables.

He stressed that such councils should function as effective operational platforms aligned with Pakistan’s broader economic and development frameworks to ensure accountability and long-term growth.

Concluding the engagement, he assured the delegation that their concerns would receive prompt consideration, reiterating the government’s resolve to support MSMEs, promote value-added manufacturing, and build a diversified, competitive, compliant, and sustainable export economy.

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