Participation in International Exhibitions Crucial for Survival of Export Industries – PCMEA Leaders

Lahore, Pakistan – February 8, 2026 — Chairman of the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) Mian Atiq-ur-Rehman and Vice Chairman Riaz Ahmed have warned that participation in international exhibitions is now essential for the survival and growth of Pakistan’s export-oriented industries, especially the century-old hand-knotted carpet sector.
Addressing a meeting at the PCMEA office, they highlighted that excessively high production costs and heavy taxation are severely eroding the competitiveness of Pakistani products in global markets. They urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to immediately take notice of the longstanding challenges facing the hand-made carpet industry and issue concrete directives for their resolution.
The PCMEA leadership praised the highly encouraging results achieved by the Pakistani delegation at the recent ICFE Carpet and Floor Coverings Fair held in Türkiye. They stated that the participation has already begun to contribute meaningfully to the revival and long-term stability of the hand-knotted carpet sector.
Key highlights from the meeting:
Pakistani companies Red Inc and Turkhanum Home won the Best Mixed Weaving Technique Design Award for the second consecutive year at the international exhibition — a major global recognition of Pakistani craftsmanship.
The award has injected fresh confidence, motivation and optimism across the industry.
The Pakistani delegation held successful and result-oriented meetings with international buyers, leading to the signing of several important export contracts.
Pakistan’s hand-made carpets received outstanding appreciation for their distinctive designs, superior quality and rich traditional artistic value.
Mian Atiq-ur-Rehman and Riaz Ahmed emphasized that consistent participation in global exhibitions and the expansion of export orders will have a lasting positive impact. This will not only create new employment opportunities but also strengthen the national economy through increased foreign exchange earnings.
They reiterated that the hand-made carpet industry — one of Pakistan’s most traditional and skill-intensive export sectors — is currently facing severe structural and economic pressures. The PCMEA leaders called on the government to provide focused policy attention, cost-relief measures and targeted support to protect and promote this vital industry.
The meeting was attended by Patron-in-Chief Abdul Latif Malik, Chairperson of the Carpet Training Institute Ijaz-ur-Rehman, senior member Usman Ashraf, Major (Retd) Akhtar Nazir, Saeed Khan, Saeed Ijaz-ur-Rehman, Faisal Saeed Khan and other prominent members.