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Lahore: In a strategic move aimed at bolstering industrial growth and promoting exports, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced the inclusion of the export and manufacturing sectors in the province’s Easy Business Scheme. This development was praised by Ejaz-ur-Rehman, Chairperson of the Carpet Training Institute, who addressed a joint meeting of handmade carpet manufacturers, exporters, and the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
Ejaz-ur-Rehman and other participants lauded the Chief Minister’s economic vision, particularly her directive to the Managing Director of the Punjab Small Industries Corporation. This directive calls for extending the loan facility under the Easy Business Scheme to these critical sectors, marking a significant policy shift after decades of stagnation.
Rehman noted that this is the first time in decades that the Punjab government is taking concrete steps to support export-oriented industries. He anticipates that these measures will have far-reaching effects on the province’s economic landscape.
The handmade carpet industry, Rehman emphasized, is one of Punjab’s key export sectors. He recalled the establishment of 83 Carpet Training and Production Centres in the 1970s and 1980s, which played a crucial role in elevating Pakistan’s handmade carpet exports to $250 million and securing a strong position in global markets.
However, Rehman lamented the abrupt discontinuation of this program, which he said was done without consulting stakeholders, resulting in substantial damage to the industry. Currently, exports have dwindled to just $86 million.
The meeting highlighted a longstanding lack of actionable support for the export and manufacturing sectors. The Chief Minister’s recent directives, however, represent a crucial opportunity for revival.
Rehman pointed out that the handmade carpet sector is predominantly a household cottage industry, with a substantial portion of its workforce consisting of rural women. He stressed that government support is now essential for the sector’s survival and growth.
Stakeholders urged the Punjab Small Industries Corporation’s Managing Director to promptly draft a loan scheme tailored for the handmade carpet sector. They recommended that this plan be developed in consultation with the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Carpet Training Institute.
They also called for the inclusion of other export-related associations to ensure that all key sectors benefit from this initiative by the Punjab government.