Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan chaired a meeting with
representatives of the Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association
(PCMEA) to review the challenges confronting Pakistan’s hand-knotted carpet export
sector, a traditional powerhouse of craftsmanship, employment, and foreign exchange
earnings, and discuss immediate facilitation measures.
The PCMEA delegation, led by Patron-in-Chief Mr. Abdul Latif Malik and Senior
Vice Chairman Mr. Usman Ashraf, highlighted disruptions in the supply of essential
intermediates required for carpet production which are adversely affecting exporters’
ability to honor international commitments, risking loss of market share and exports. The
delegation sought urgent government intervention to resolve operational bottlenecks.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan reaffirmed that promoting value-added exports such as
hand-knotted carpets remains a key priority of the Ministry of Commerce. He
emphasized the sector’s significant contribution to employment generation, women’s
empowerment, and preservation of traditional craftsmanship. He assured the delegation
of proactive support to address supply constraints and facilitate exporters, particularly
micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operating in the sector.
The Minister also called for institutionalizing planning through structured
secretariats under sectoral councils, with clearly defined mandates and time-bound
deliverables. He stressed that such councils must evolve into operational platforms
aligned with Pakistan’s broader economic and development frameworks to ensure long-
term planning and accountability.
Concluding the engagement, Jam Kamal Khan assured the PCMEA that their
concerns would receive prompt consideration, reiterating the government’s resolve to
strengthen value-added manufacturing, support MSMEs, and promote a diversified,
competitive, compliant, and sustainable export economy.
