To address the constantly expanding demands of the furniture industry, the Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) has asked the government and business sector to work together to increase the country's forest cover to 25% from 5%. Speaking to a group of women furniture entrepreneurs, PFC Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq stated that the local paper and furniture sectors are now dealing with severe supply shocks that are negatively harming their ability to compete on the global stage. He advised the furniture sector to stay resilient by innovating, embracing technology and diversifying export markets in order to retain demand in the long run, since the global economy is anticipated to be more difficult this year in the wake of Covid-19.

According to Mian Kashif Ashfaq, the local market is overrun with inexpensive furniture made of decorative and laminated sheets of chipboard because  there are not enough sources of wood. He said that since hardwood furniture is fairly pricey, Shishum's furniture is exclusively produced for particular customers. In order to fulfil the expanding needs of the furniture sector, he stated that Pakistan has to plant large numbers of trees in plains, hills, and other locations with the assistance of the government and private organisations. The forestry industry employs about 500,000 people, along with businesses that are related to it like logging, carpentry, the manufacture of timber products, and tourism. However, due to their small area, forests only make up 0.3% of the country's overall gross national product, he added.

Mian Kashif said, Pakistan's furniture sector has the potential to be significant on a number of levels, since it has the capacity to greatly boost the country's gross domestic product and employ a large number of people with a variety of specialised furniture talents. He said in order to increase market share, Pakistan must overcome obstacles and keep creating novel, consumer-focused goods. He said that Pakistani artisans can operate in this specific field to generate much-needed foreign currency. He said the country has exceptional craftsmen and designers who can practically give life to a piece of wood.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk