Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Highlighted Shortage of Wood
Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Highlighted Shortage of Wood: Pakistan’s furniture industry has the potential to be a substantial one at multiple levels as it can contribute significantly to the GDP and employ numerous people.
A meeting of furniture stakeholders this week was held to find concrete solutions to the problems being confronted by the local furniture industry in Pakistan. A large number of furniture makers and stakeholders, from across the country, participated in the meeting and presented their proposals to the PFC for a joint line of action.
Issues Furniture Industry Is Facing
- Many handmade traditional-furniture manufacturers are struggling to win large orders from global retailers due to a significant shortage of rosewood and trained woodworkers across the country.
- when a local furniture brand wins large orders from global retailers, he fails to fulfill the demand because of non-availability of skilled workers.
PFC members suggested to extend forest cover from 5% to 25% of total area so that they can get wood especially rosewood. They demanded the government to provide technical training to workers.
About 67% of wood used in Pakistan’s products is produced domestically. Pakistani handmade furniture exports have grown steadily in recent years, but there is potential to increase foreign shipments. These exports represent a very small portion of the total furniture business of the country.
Given the high demand for timber, local furniture companies are faced with a significant shortage of material and only about 7% Pakistani furniture makers have managed to win large orders from global retailers.
Local companies believe that the government should throw its weight behind a plan to develop a sustainable forestry system that can be expanded as demand for wood grows.
Business community of the capital city here on Wednesday called upon the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for focusing on resolving the key issues of business community, particularly of furniture market as due to problems the traders of the market were facing difficulties in promoting business activities.
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Sheikh Amir Waheed said Islamabad furniture market was lacking in basic facilities like footpaths, street lights, filtration plant and public toilet and stressed upon the CDA to look into these issues for resolution on priority basis.
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