Government should provide sufficient incentives to exporters: PCMEA

Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) have expressed resentment over the decrease in exports of the country.

Senior Vice Chairman PCMEA Riaz Ahmed has urged the government to provide sufficient incentives to the exporters to enable them to compete with the tradition rival, India along with other competitors in the international market.

Riaz Ahmed has demanded to call an All Parties Conference on national level over the issue so that a consensus national policy could be finalized in connection with imports and exports in the country.

He was addressing the participants of the Association's important meeting. The meeting was called to discuss the ways and means for the upcoming exhibition, The meeting discussed the arrangements being made for the exhibition and the difficulties being faced in this regard.

He said that the 35th International Carpet Exhibition is scheduled to be held in Lahore from 5-7 October this year. He said that major countries of the world including South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states are also scheduled to participate in the exhibition.

Flanked by other office bearers of the Carpet Manufacturers and Export Association including Latif Malik, Major Retired Akhtar Nazir and Khalid Saeed Sheikh, the PCMEA Senior Vice Chairman said that more than 100 delegations from the world are expected to participate in the exhibition scheduled to be held from 5-7 October this year in Lahore.

The PCMEA chief, who is also the Chairman of forthcoming International Exhibition being arranged in Lahore, said that at least 55 participants of the world have gave their assurance to participate in the 35th International Carpet Exhibition in Pakistan.

He said that Federal Minister for Commerce and Trade, Engr Khurram Dastagir has assured PCMEA to resolve the issues of carpet exporters. Besides Khurram Dastagir, the proposals of carpet industry were also hailed by the officials of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

He further said that the Ministry of Commerce and TDAP have also assured that in future, all policies will be devised after consensus with the carpet industry.

Riaz Ahmed reiterated his demand to direct the Commercial Attaches in Pakistani Embassies including Consulates abroad for marketing and advertisement of Pakistani products for enhancing exports of Pakistani products in international market.

He also urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to spare some time and grace the inauguration of the forthcoming 35th International Carpet Exhibition in October on October 6 at Lahore.

He hoped that due to positive impact, the exhibition will help Pakistan in enhancing its exports abroad. He urged the government to fully support the forthcoming exhibition. He vowed to lead the SAARC countries in Carpet producing if the Pakistani government take interest and support this industry like India and other counties.

He said that Secretary Trade Development Authority has already been approached and informed about the difficulties being faced in arranging the International Carpet Exhibition in October.

Secretary Trade Development Authority has promised to remove all the hurdles in arranging the International Carpet Exhibition and official patronage during the exhibition.