LAHORE: Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMAEA) said on Tuesday that the government should provide all possible patronage to the export sector in the current difficult situation and in view of this, a relief should be given in the next budget.
This was stated by senior vice chairman of the association Riaz Ahmed while addressing a meeting held through video link. Chairperson Carpet Training Institute Pervez Hanif, Senior Central Leader Abdul Latif Malik, Saeed Khan, Muhammad Akbar Malik, Ejaz-ur-Rehman, Major (retd) Akhtar Nazir, Daniel Hanif, Faisal Saeed Khan and others were also present on the occasion.
The difficulties faced by the handloom carpet industry and related artisans were also discussed in detail. Ahmed said other countries, including traditional rivals, were earning billions of dollars from the export of handmade carpets due to the concessions and facilities provided by their governments, while ‘our exports are not declining’, so Prime Minister Imran Khan should take notice and issue directions in regard to patronizing carpet industry.
He said that the government should prepare the budget for the next financial year keeping in view the situation created due to coronavirus pandemic. Reiterating his earlier stance, he said facilities and incentives should be given to the export sector. “It is hoped that the government will not impose more tax burden on any sector in the next budget and the handloom carpet industry will be facilitated on the line of countries, including our traditional foreign rivals in the carpet sector,” he concluded.