15-Member Exporters’ Delegation to Represent Pakistan at Turkiye Carpet Expo

By Muhammad Shahzad — Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: A 15-member delegation of Pakistani exporters, led by Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) Chairman Mian Atiq ur Rehman, will participate in the Carpet and Flooring Expo scheduled to be held in Turkiye from January 6 to 9, 2026, the association said on Sunday.
The decision was finalised at a meeting jointly chaired by PCMEA Chairman Mian Atiq ur Rehman and Vice Chairman Riaz Ahmed, aimed at finalising Pakistan’s participation in the international exhibition, promoting the country’s handmade carpet industry, and formulating a strategy to engage foreign buyers during the event.
The meeting was attended by PCMEA Patron-in-Chief Abdul Latif Malik, Chairperson of the Carpet Training Institute Ijaz ur Rehman, senior member Usman Ashraf, Saeed Khan, Shahid Hassan Sheikh, Saad Ijaz ur Rehman, Faisal Saeed Khan and other association members.
Addressing the participants, Mian Atiq ur Rehman and Riaz Ahmed said the delegation would attend the global exhibition with renewed commitment to maximise the use of the international platform for promoting Pakistani handmade carpets. They said special arrangements would be made for side-line meetings with international buyers, during which participants would highlight the superior quality, craftsmanship and distinctive designs of Pakistan’s hand-knotted carpets.
They added that foreign buyers would also be formally invited to attend the international carpet exhibition scheduled to be held in Pakistan later this year.
The PCMEA leadership urged the government to urgently address the challenges faced by the handmade carpet industry, which they said are limiting the sector’s foreign exchange earnings. They specifically called for the continuation of the 80/20 subsidy scheme for participation in international exhibitions through alternative mechanisms following the abolition of the Export Development Surcharge.
Warning that the absence of Pakistani exporters from major global trade fairs could adversely affect export growth, the association stressed the importance of sustained government support.
The PCMEA leaders noted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s stated commitment to export promotion and expressed hope that concrete policy measures would be taken to support the sector. They said facilitating exporters’ participation in international exhibitions would help expand global market access, boost sales and generate much-needed foreign exchange for the national economy.