PCMEA Welcomes Prime Minister’s Export Relief Measures

By Farzana Chaudhry | Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: The Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) has welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of relief measures for exporters. The package includes a reduction in the export refinancing rate from 7.5% to 4.5%, a further cut of Rs 4.04 per unit in electricity tariffs, a reduction of Rs 9 in wheeling charges, and the introduction of two-year Blue Passport facilities for top-performing exporters.
In a joint statement, PCMEA leadership—including Chairman Mian Atiq ur Rehman, Patron-in-Chief Abdul Latif Malik, Vice Chairman Riaz Ahmed, Chairperson of the Carpet Training Institute Ijaz ur Rehman, and senior members Usman Ashraf, Major (Retd) Akhtar Nazir, and Saeed Khan—urged the Prime Minister to establish a high-level follow-up committee under his supervision to ensure effective and timely implementation of these initiatives.
The association noted that Pakistan’s handmade carpet industry is one of the country’s oldest export sectors and a globally recognized symbol of craftsmanship. However, it is currently facing a downturn due to structural and operational challenges. The sector, as the largest cottage industry in Pakistan, provides doorstep employment to millions in rural areas.
Declining exports, insufficient financial support mechanisms, persistent border issues at Torkham, and high taxation have contributed to a serious shortage of skilled artisans, weakening the industry further.
PCMEA called on the Prime Minister to recognize the strategic importance of the carpet sector and provide targeted policy support to ensure sustainability. The association highlighted that handmade carpet production and export is a complex, time-intensive process that requires tailored incentives. They expressed confidence that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would directly engage with PCMEA office-bearers to understand the sector’s challenges and consider their recommendations.