KARACHI
Turkey will share latest technology with Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) to help furniture manufacturers in producing world class modern design furniture to compete with international markets besides making them able of slashing their cost of product.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday in connection with the forthcoming 8th 3-day mega Interiors Pakistan Expo commencing from July 7 at Expo Centre, Chief Executive Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Mian Kashif Ashfaq said that one of the leading Turkish ‘Inegol Business Association’  will set up modern training centers, one each at Lahore, Chinot, Gujrat and Peshawar where local woodworkers will get training in modern designing and improvement of products to meet global market demands.
He said that PFC has inked a memorandum of understanding with Turkish private sector for the promotion of furniture industry in Pakistan.
Unfolding the distinguishing features of MoU, he said Turkey is interested in enhancing furniture business with PFC, undertaking joint-venture projects either in Turkey or in Pakistan, and sharing technology with Pakistan.
He further said that Musoot, another leading furniture producer in Turkey, has also agreed to cooperate with PFC for organizing a series of 3-day workshops in Pakistan for practical demonstration to enhance capacity building and improvement of furniture quality.
The PFC chief executive suggested that a chartered vessel service should be started between Pakistan and Turkey for regular trade of goods. He also urged the need for an establishment of a display centre for Pakistani furniture in Istanbul.
He said many countries have shown interest in Pakistani furniture; they like our hand-carved designs on furniture with classic and fine finishing and similar designs could be replicated in the Turkish furniture market.
Answering a question, he said that Pakistan exported furniture products of worth rupees 600 million against the import of rupees Rs 4 billion.
He said Pakistan has potential to export at least one billion dollars handmade wood furniture annually if the government patronized furniture industry and if interest-free loans on soft terms and condition are advanced to small scale manufacturers for boosting export and overcoming their financial constraints which he added will also generate plenty of jobs to poor segment of the society.
In reply to another question, he said that PFC has so far successfully conducted 7 Interiors Pakistan exhibitions at Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi on self-help basis without any financial assistance from the government which speaks of dedication of members of the board of directors who contribute funds for expos.
Mian Kashif said that now PFC is going to hold its 8th exhibition in Karachi, a hub of economic activities in Pakistan.
He said that leading manufacturers will display their products which he hoped would attract a large number of investors, buyers and visitors from across section of the society.
He said Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah will inaugurate the 8th exhibition and other leading trade leaders like SM Munnir patron in chief United Business Group, veteran trade leader Iftikhar Ali Malik and president Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zubair Tufail will also visit the 3-day exhibitions.
